Ken Holland doesn’t close the door on Evander Kane.
Posted at 3:33 p.m.
In fact, he might even roll out the red carpet.
The Edmonton Oilers general manager said on Tuesday he spoke to the agent for the controversial winger, whose contract was recently terminated by the San Jose Sharks.
Asked directly about Kane – now a free agent – at a press briefing in Edmonton, Holland said he would not turn down any player in a similar situation until he “understood what was going on”.
“I believe in second chances,” said Holland. It’s hard to be perfect… we are all people. We all make mistakes. “
“Some people make big mistakes, some make small mistakes, but it’s hard to be perfect. ”
The Sharks put Kane on waivers on Saturday, saying the forward violated COVID-19 protocols while in the American League. Kane was unclaimed in the ensuing 24-hour period, which put San Jose in a position to terminate the remainder of the player’s contract.
A source told The Associated Press on Monday that the NHL Players Association has filed a grievance against the Sharks, saying the team did not have sufficient grounds to make the decision.
Termination of the contract will cost Kane, a 7-season, 20-goal forward, around $ 22.9 million. He had signed a 7-year, 49 million contract in May 2018.
The Oilers started the 2021-22 campaign with a 16-5-0 record and led the Western Conference to 1er December, but they are only 2-9-2 since, even though Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are tied for the lead in NHL scoring.
Kane has 264 goals and 506 points in 769 regular season games. The 30-year-old added six goals and seven assists in 29 playoff games.
Holland, meanwhile, has known Kane’s agent Dan Milstein since his days as GM of the Detroit Red Wings and representing Pavel Datsyuk.
“As GM it’s my responsibility to inquire about every situation,” said Holland. I spoke to Dan. ”
The Sharks’ decision to end Kane’s contract ended a multi-month saga in San Jose. Over the summer, he was accused of betting on hockey and deliberately losing the games he was betting on, as well as committing sexual and physical violence against his wife, Anna, from whom he was separated.
The NHL investigated and found no evidence to support these claims, but suspended Kane for 21 games for presenting a fake COVID-19 vaccination card. When the suspension was lifted at the end of November, the Sharks put Kane on waivers and demoted him to the AHL when he was not claimed.
“If someone makes a decision or does something in their life, and they make a mistake, I think they have to try to learn a lesson and change,” Holland said.
“And then they should get a second chance once they’ve done the right thing.” ”