Eichel, Anybody? Kane’s Cap Hit Won’t Count…For Now

Jack Eichel, anybody?

Per CapFriendly, Evander Kane’s $7 million dollar hit does not count against the San Jose Sharks’ salary cap. That’s a reversal from yesterday, when it appeared that the “non-roster player” would count against the cap.

Eklund, Dahlen, Hatakka, Weatherby Make Sharks Opening Night Roster https://t.co/Fs7rc5SMp5

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) October 11, 2021

So what will Doug Wilson do with this sudden cap space? Well, it’s hard to say.

As Nick Kypreos suggested today, the NHL is leaning toward suspending Kane for an undetermined period of time — the San Jose Sharks star is currently under investigation by the league for sexual assault, domestic battery, and COVID protocol violations. Per the Sharks, Kane is “considered a non-roster player pending completion of the NHL’s investigation.”

Kypreos Reports NHL Leans Toward Kane Suspension

So this cushion seems to be contingent on the length of Kane’s suspension — that could be a short or a long period of time.

It’s hard to trade for a $10 million dollar man like Eichel — it was a tongue-and-cheek suggestion — when your cap space may well be illusory.

Of course, there are a lot more barriers than just that in between the San Jose Sharks and a prize like Eichel anyway.

On the other hand, this cap space could still be valuable for San Jose if it proves to be more than temporary. Tip of that iceberg, they can add to a team currently without its leading goalscorer last year in Kane.

We’ll see: That seems to be the theme for everything Evander Kane and the San Jose Sharks this off-season.