NHL Pacific

San Jose Barracuda forward Krystof Hrabik has been suspended 30 games after making a racist gesture toward Tucson Roadrunners forward Boko Imama, who is Black, during a Jan. 12 game, the AHL announced Friday. 

According to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski, Hrabik imitated the movement of a monkey in a taunt toward Imama. Players on the Roadrunners bench noticed the gesture, and he was eventually confronted by Tucson's Travis Barron. 

The AHL was made aware of the incident on Jan. 13 and began investigating. At that point, Hrabik was barred from all team activities. He has already served three games of his 30-game suspension. 

AHL President and CEO Scott Howson released the following statement:

The AHL stands with Boko Imama. It is unfair that any player should be subjected to comments or gestures based on their race; they should be judged only on their ability to perform as a player on the ice, as a teammate in the locker room and as a member of their community.

Hrabik released a statement on Friday evening. He said he would not be appealing the suspension and that he is "embarrassed" by his actions. 

https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1484698516530221060

Imama also released a statement, saying the situation is "frustrating and disheartening" and hopes people learn from it. 

Enough is enough! pic.twitter.com/bETzUXEPGo

— Boko Imama (@bokojr) January 22, 2022

As part of his suspension, Hrabik is being given the opportunity to work with the NHL's Player Inclusion Committee to participate in education and training on racism and inclusion. He will be allowed to apply for reinstatement to the AHL after missing 21 games. The league's decision will be "based on an evaluation of his progress in the necessary education and training" with the Player Inclusion Committee.

The Barracuda and the San Jose Sharks, the team's NHL affiliate, also released a joint statement Friday:

Statement from the San Jose Barracuda and San Jose Sharks Organizations pic.twitter.com/0lYaLuDbUl

— x - SJ Barracuda (@sjbarracuda) January 21, 2022

This marks the second time a player has been suspended for making a racist gesture toward Imama. Former Bakersfield Condors defenseman Brandon Manning was suspended five games in 2020 after using a racial slur toward Imama. 

Imama was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2015. He spent four years with the Los Angeles Kings from 2017-21 before signing with the Roadrunners last summer. 

Evander Kane has not played an NHL game this season, but he reportedly could be returning to the ice for a new team pending the outcome of a league investigation.

Darren Dreger of TSN reported there remains "a decent chance" the left-winger will sign with the Edmonton Oilers if he avoids a significant suspension. He also said the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning "remain in the mix," although things could change if the NHL gives him a lengthy penalty.

.@DarrenDreger: If Evander Kane avoids suspension, there's 'a decent chance' he'll sign with the Oilers. pic.twitter.com/OADADZbwj2

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 20, 2022

In November ESPN's Greg Wyshynski wrote about Kane's 2021, including his 21-game suspension for violating the NHL's COVID-19 protocols because he submitted a fake vaccination card.

What's more, the league investigated after his estranged wife, Anna Kane, made allegations of domestic violence and that he bet on NHL games. The NHL said the allegations of assault "could not be substantiated" and determined there was no evidence he bet on hockey games.

The Sharks placed Kane on waivers, which he cleared, and then reassigned him to their AHL affiliate, the Barracuda.

San Jose then announced on Jan. 8 it placed him on unconditional waivers and would terminate his contract, citing a "breach of his NHL Standard Player Contract and for violation of the AHL COVID-19 protocols."

The NHL's ongoing investigation into Kane is related to this breach of protocols. Per Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the league is looking into a border crossing made by Kane from the U.S. into Canada in December.

Still, ESPN's Kevin Weekes reported "most" teams that are realistically in contention for the Stanley Cup gauged interest from Kane's camp. 

Pierre LeBrun of TSN said the left-winger's agent, Dan Milstein, said the plan is to sign a one-year deal for the rest of the 2021-22 campaign.

Kane played for the Atlanta Thrashers, Buffalo Sabres and Sharks from the 2009-10 season. He appeared in 56 games for San Jose in 2020-21 and finished with 49 points on 22 goals and 27 assists.

The Oilers are 18-15-2 on the season for 38 points, which is good enough for seventh place in the Pacific Division.            

It's been a wild week in the NHL with the Evander Kane situation changing seemingly by the hour. Let's review.

- The San Jose Sharks announced on Jan. 8 that they had placed the 30-year-old winger on unconditional waivers for his second violation of COVID-19 protocols this season as a member of the club's AHL affiliate, the Barracuda. His contract was officially terminated on Jan. 9. Kane was originally suspended in October for reportedly using a fake vaccine card.

- The NHLPA immediately stated its intention that it would file a grievance on Kane's behalf, challenging the Sharks' decision to terminate Kane's contract.

We are aware of the San Jose Sharks’ stated intent to terminate Evander Kane’s contract. The NHLPA intends to challenge any such action by filing a grievance.

— NHLPA (@NHLPA) January 8, 2022

- According to Sportnet's Elliotte Friedman on Jan. 11, the Edmonton Oilers were in serious contention to sign Kane as an unrestricted free agent.

- When asked directly about signing Kane, Oilers general manager Ken Holland said, "I believe in second chances." Oilers captain Connor McDavid was also open to having him join in Edmonton.

- On Jan. 12, Friedman reported that Kane was under league investigation for the process of crossing the U.S.-Canadian border in December. The investigation would likely delay any team from signing Kane in the near term.

https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1481320054788694017

So where does this leave Kane and Sharks? How did we get into this situation in the first place? And what will happen next? 

Let's take a closer look at the entire situation.

Why was a former 30-goal scorer in the prime of his career playing in the AHL in the first place?

After being suspended in October for reportedly having a fake vaccine card, Kane was playing in the AHL for the first time in his career as the Sharks sought a trade partner that never materialized. Kane had worn out his welcome in the Sharks locker room, with several teammates saying they didn't want him back for the 2021-22 campaign.

Trading him also would have required them to retain much of his $7 million yearly salary, since Kane is in the fourth year of a seven-year, $49 million contract. His time in the AHL wasn't without controversy either, as the club questioned his commitment to the Barracuda after he missed practices with what he called a sore shoulder and food poisoning, according to The Athletic. 

What caused the Sharks to release Kane?

The Sharks said they terminated Kane's contract "for breach of his NHL standard player contract and for violation of the AHL COVID-19 protocols. It's important to note that the club probably could not have terminated his contract had the league not agreed that there was a breach of contract terms. 

The NHLPA did not see the situation the same way, but that was to be expected. 

Just a few months after being named the Sharks' player of the year, the team decided it was better off without the distraction, even if that meant losing his prolific offensive production. 

Has Kane been involved in other troubling incidents?

Kane has long had a history of on- and off-ice issues that range from clashes with his own teammates to conflicts with officials to arrests. 

The fourth overall pick in the 2009 draft by the Atlanta Thrashers, Kane was sued for assault damages in 2014 as a member of the Winnipeg Jets. He was scratched after an incident with his teammates. He publicly stated that he felt the team didn't have his back and traded away its problem.

In July 2016 as a member of the Buffalo Sabres, he was sued by a 21-year-old woman who claimed he invited her to a party in the Buffalo hotel room where he was living and attacked her. Later that month he was arrested after allegedly harassing three women at a Buffalo bar. He was later cleared of all charges.

Kane has also missed practices—once to go to the NBA All-Star Game in Toronto—he was scratched for violating the Jets' dress code, he's been late to practices, and teammates and coaches have found him to be unaccountable. Former Sabres general manager Tim Murray said Kane's involvement in highly publicized incidents like bar fights brought negative attention to the organization. 

Last year, his estranged wife, Anna Kane, posted a series of Instagram stories accusing her husband of domestic abuse, gambling on NHL games and even throwing games. While Kane does have a history of gambling, as is evidenced by his bankruptcy that stemmed from gambling debts, the league cleared him of any wrongdoing, and he and his wife dropped their domestic violence restraining orders against one another

Who is interested in signing Kane?

Frank Seravalli of DailyFaceoff.com reported on Jan. 12 that as many as 16 teams have shown interest in Kane. The Oilers appeared to be the most interested in him. However, there is a chance that Kane probably would not be able to help a team in need of him for a playoff push.

Kane and his agent, Dan Milstein, were interviewing with teams before deputy commissioner Bill Daly sent out a memo saying the league was opening an investigation into his cross-border travel. 

The Canadian government does not allow people to board a "public flight" within 15 days of receiving a positive COVID-19 test. Failure to comply with the Canadian federal Quarantine Act could result in "fines, imprisonment or both." Kane allegedly tested positive on Dec. 21 and traveled on Dec. 29.

Aside from the legal ramifications, Kane could be subjected to disciplinary action by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, which could mean that any team that signs him wouldn't be able to use him right away. Kane was already suspended for 21 games for the first COVID-19 infraction, so if he's suspended again it could be in the range of 30-40 games, which would bring him right about to the start of the postseason. 

Why do so many teams seem willing to sign Kane?

Kane is capable of scoring 20-30 goals per season, and scorers like that will always be coveted. There is no question Kane is a talented winger who could boost the offensive production of any lineup. 

Financially, it's a low-risk move since a team could negotiate a short-term contract. 

Should a team still sign him? 

McDavid seemed somewhat noncommittal when asked about the situation Wednesday night. 

"I'm not really here to discuss optic issues," he said. "If fans don't like it or the media doesn't like it, I think, whatever. It is what it is. There are a lot of things that go on on the ice that fans don't like and we don't necessarily have to discuss those up here with you guys.

"The public opinion is something that matters a lot, but we're here to try and win games and put a good team on the ice."

McDavid and his teammate, Leon Draisaitl, badly need help. The team has shown a remarkable inability to produce offense without those two on the ice, and goaltenders Mike Smith and Mikko Koskinen have struggled. The roster has had several COVID-19-related absences and the team is right up against the cap, so Kane would be a way to bring in offense for cheap. 

If the captain says it's not a big deal, then the rest of the locker room will have to take the same approach, at least publicly. But privately, it's a different story. 

There will always be players who place a high value on team chemistry and accountability. There will always be young, impressionable players on their entry-level contracts because this is a salary-cap league. Can the Oilers afford to keep Kane around emerging young defenseman Evan Bouchard? Can any team afford to have a player known for being late or skipping practices around its top prospects? 

It's possible that Kane is, in fact, a better teammate than we are seeing on Twitter. Along with Akim Aliu, Kane was a co-founder of the Hockey Diversity Alliance. However, he took a "voluntary leave" from the organization in August after Anna Kane's allegations became public. 

But one could also argue that continually putting organizations in positions to defend his actions and leaving teams short-handed because of things like suspensions makes him a poor teammate. 

There are some executives who have decided against signing Kane, even at a fraction of the cost. But if a team is that desperate for offensive production and it feels as though it has the structure and leadership to keep him on track, or that a playoff run would motivate him, then it may think otherwise. 

It all depends on the outcome of the league's investigation and then what an independent arbitrator decides regarding his contract with the Sharks. For now, everything is on hold, which adds yet another layer to an already complicated situation. 

The Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche and Florida Panthers have been shut down through the NHL's holiday break because of COVID-19 outbreaks within each club, the league announced Friday.

The @NHL has extended the period of game postponements for the @NHLFlames through Dec. 23.

Additionally, @Avalanche and @FlaPanthers games also will be postponed at least through the scheduled completion of the League's Holiday Break on Dec. 26. https://t.co/uwKuHkEhJw pic.twitter.com/d8r558IcCa

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) December 17, 2021

Calgary has already missed matchups with the Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators and Toronto Maple Leafs. It will also miss games against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Anaheim Ducks and Seattle Kraken.

Colorado's postponements are for games against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins, while Florida will miss contests against the Minnesota Wild, Blackhawks and Predators. 

The Flames have 19 players and 13 club employees in COVID-19 protocols. Five Avalanche players are in protocols, and the Panthers have seven, per ESPN's Kristen Shilton. 

Other NHL franchises are also experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks, including the Boston Bruins, whose matchup against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday was postponed. 

The NHL has mandated enhanced health and safety protocols amid the outbreaks across the league, including increased mask-wearing, virtual meetings and daily testing. 

ESPN's Emily Kaplan noted that the more games are postponed, the less likely NHL players will participate in the Winter Olympics. The league may need that time for makeup games.

NHL Players' Association Executive Director Don Fehr said last week that players are uncertain about participating in the Beijing Olympics because they haven't received definitive answers about COVID-19 protocols for the Games, per ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. 

It's unclear if the NHL is considering a leaguewide shutdown given the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases. 

The NHL has further delayed the Calgary Flames' return to play after 17 additional members of the organization entered the league's COVID Protocol, including seven players, and postponed Saturday's scheduled matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets.  

SCHEDULE UPDATE: @NHL delays @NHLFlames’ return to play; Saturday’s game vs. @BlueJacketsNHL postponed. https://t.co/m1DTKLjRZc pic.twitter.com/cHVumGrnW8

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) December 15, 2021

The Flames last played on Saturday, losing to the Bruins 4-2. 

The NHL, much like the NFL and NBA at the moment, is seeing a rise in cases. The Carolina Hurricanes, Vancouver Canucks, Detroit Red Wings and Nashville Predators all have multiple players and/or staffers in the league's COVID-19 protocol.

The NHL postponed Tuesday's scheduled matchup between the Hurricanes and Minnesota Wild after Carolina's spike in positive tests. 

Head coach Darryl Sutter is among those in the protocol for the Flames, the team announced, while the players added on Wednesday include Rasmus Andersson, Byron Froese, Johnny Gaudreau, Erik Gudbranson, Trevor Lewis, Jacob Markstrom and Tyler Pitlick. 

Calgary has now had four games postponed. 

Per ESPN, 130 NHL players have been placed in the COVID protocol this season. 

In the NBA, meanwhile, rising cases led to the league postponing two Chicago Bulls games this week, with 10 of the team's players in the health and safety protocols. And the Brooklyn Nets currently have seven players in the protocols.

"Like the rest of the country, and as was predicted by our infectious disease specialists, we have seen an increase of cases around the league," NBA spokesman Mike Bass told reporters this week. "As we have since the pandemic began in March 2020, we will continue to follow the science and data, and will, in close partnership with the players' association, update our protocols as deemed appropriate by our medical experts."

Boston Bruins winger Brad Marchand was placed in the NHL's COVID-19 protocol Tuesday.

Marchand joins Bruins forward Craig Smith in protocols.

The Bruins are set to host the Las Vegas Golden Knights later Tuesday night. Marchand's and Smith's placement in the protocols comes three days after Boston visited the Calgary Flames, who had six players and a staff member placed in protocols Monday. The NHL postponed Calgary's next three games. 

A player must sit out 10 days or provide two negative tests 24 hours apart in order to be cleared for a return to game action.

Marchand has 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists) in 21 games this season. 

The Vancouver Canucks have reportedly fired head coach Travis Green and are replacing him with Bruce Boudreau, according to The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta and Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

The news comes following the Canucks' 4-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, which dropped them to 8-15-2 on the season, last place in the Pacific Division.

According to TSN's Darren Dreger, Green's firing may not be the only move coming in Vancouver as the Canucks are reportedly likely to undergo more "significant changes."

The Athletic's Rick Dhaliwal later reported general manager Jim Benning and assistant general manager John Weisbrod had also been fired. 

Things have undoubtedly taken a turn for the worse in Vancouver. During Sunday's loss to the Penguins, Canucks fans were chanting for Benning to be fired. One fan even tossed a jersey onto the ice in disgust with 1.6 seconds remaining in the third period.

Someone threw a Canucks sweater onto the ice. Brian Dumoulin kindly returned it to the stands. pic.twitter.com/JNuxmRj3rY

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 5, 2021

Green coached Vancouver's AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets, for four years before being hired to replace Willie Desjardins as head coach of the Canucks after the 2017 campaign. The 50-year-old went 133-147-34 in a little more than four-and-a-quarter seasons behind the bench and led the Canucks to just one postseason appearance during the 2019-20 campaign.

Vancouver followed up that season with a disappointing last-place finish in the NHL's all-Canadian division during the 2020-21 season with a 23-29-4 record. The Canucks have made the playoffs just twice in the last eight seasons, and the team has been particularly disappointing since falling to the Boston Bruins in the 2011 Stanley Cup Final.

Boudreau last coached for the Minnesota Wild during the 2019-20 season, going 27-23-7 before being fired ahead of the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 campaign. In his four seasons as head coach of the Wild, he compiled a 158-110-35 record.

The 66-year-old also coached the Washington Capitals from 2007-08 to 2011-12, compiling a 201-88-40 record, before coaching the Anaheim Ducks from 2011-12 to 2015-16, compiling a 208-104-40 record.

In his 14 seasons as a head coach, Boudreau compiled a 567-302-115 record and won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's best coach during the 2007-08 campaign. His teams have finished first within their respective divisions in eight of his 14 seasons and have made the postseason in 10 of those years.

Anna Kane, the estranged wife of San Jose Sharks winger Evander Kane, has released a video allegedly showing him pointing a gun at her. 

Per TMZ Sports, Anna Kane posted the video on her social media page with the caption "pointing a loaded gun at me."

The video is allegedly of Evander Kane walking through a garage and pointing a gun in various directions before the footage stops. 

In a statement to TMZ Sports, the winger's attorneys addressed the video: 

She posted videos, taken intentionally out of context, from a professional photo shoot both parties participated in back in 2020. Her conduct, unfortunately, is consistent with her prior actions throughout this [divorce] case. Each time, we hope it will be the last. Each time, we strive to keep the peace and put the best foot forward. Each time, Evander is exonerated and Ms. Kane's allegations are unsubstantiated.

In September, A.J. Perez of Front Office Sports reported that Anna Kane accused her estranged husband of sexual assault and domestic battery in a domestic violence restraining order application filed as part of her divorce case. 

Travis Krepelka, Evander Kane's attorney, denied the accusation on behalf of his client in a statement provided to Perez. 

"To be clear, Evander denies ever abusing Ms. Kane or their daughter Kensington, whom he cherishes," Krepelka's said in the statement. "He recognizes that they have many years ahead of them as co-parents, during which they will have to work together, which makes it that much more frustrating that she has chosen this path."

Evander obtained a temporary domestic violence restraining order against Anna in August after saying she punched him in the face multiple times in the past, per TMZ Sports. 

Both domestic violence restraining order filings were dropped in October to move forward with other issues over their pending divorce. 

Kane recently finished a 21-game suspension he received from the NHL for violating the league's COVID-19 protocols. Perez reported in October the 30-year-old allegedly submitted a fake vaccine card to the NHL. 

The San Jose Sharks announced on Sunday, the final day of his suspension, that Kane was placed on waivers. He cleared waivers the next day and was reassigned to the Barracuda, San Jose's AHL affiliate.    

San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane wasn't too concerned about the NHL's investigation into allegations he bet on games.

Kane said Tuesday he "didn't lose any sleep over it," per ESPN's Greg Wyshynski:

It was definitely not great to be associated with that at the time. But they investigated me heavily, interviewed a bunch of different people and found what they found, which is nothing. Anybody who's played with me or coached me knows how competitive I am, so that would probably be the last thing that anyone would suspect.

Kane's estranged wife, Anna, said this summer he had gambled on NHL games and threw games based on bets he had made.

The 30-year-old filed for bankruptcy in January and said that he had lost $1.5 million from gambling within the preceding 12 months. The Cosmopolitan, a resort hotel and casino in Las Vegas, filed a $500,000 lawsuit against him over unpaid debts he incurred.

The NHL looked into Anna Kane's allegations and determined there was "no evidence to corroborate Ms. Kane's accusations that Mr. Kane bet or otherwise participated in gambling on NHL games." In addition, the league said what it discovered "raises doubts about the veracity of the allegations."

Perez reported in September that Anna Kane also accused Evander Kane of sexual assault and domestic battery in a court filing. Through his attorney, he denied the allegations. The league investigated those allegations as well and said they "could not be substantiated."

He also received a 21-game suspension for violating the NHL's COVID-19 protocols. A.J. Perez of Front Office Sports reported the veteran goalscorer submitted a fake vaccination card. Of the violation, Kane said Tuesday, "I served my time, did my 21 games, and now I'm back," noting that he is now fully vaccinated.

Kane has yet to appear in a game for the Sharks this season and the team placed him on waivers. No team claimed him and his $7 million salary this season, so he reported to the AHL's San Jose Barracuda.

The San Jose Sharks are going to waive Evander Kane with the hope of assigning him to their AHL affiliate. 

Sharks assistant general manager Joe Will told reporters on Sunday that Kane will begin practicing with the San Jose Barracuda this week, assuming he clears waivers. 

Kane's agent, Dan Milstein, issued a statement on Twitter about the Sharks' decision:

Statement:Over the past few weeks, we have been discussing Evander’s return to San Jose. We were not surprised by the Sharks’ decision to put him on waivers and, if he does clear, he will report to the Barracudas. Evander is looking forward to resuming his NHL career this season

— Dan Milstein (@HockeyAgent1) November 28, 2021

Kane has yet to appear in a game for the Sharks this season. 

In October, A.J. Perez of Front Office Sports reported the NHL opened an investigation into allegations that Kane violated the league's COVID-19 protocols by obtaining "a fake vaccination card he allegedly submitted."

The NHL announced on Oct. 18 that Kane has been suspended 21 games without pay for an "established violation" of the NHL and NHL Players Association's COVID protocols. 

Kane issued a statement that was included in the league's announcement:

I would like to apologize to my teammates, the San Jose Sharks organization, and all Sharks fans for violating the NHL COVID protocols. I made a mistake, one I sincerely regret and take responsibility for. During my suspension, I will continue to participate in counseling to help me make better decisions in the future. When my suspension is over, I plan to return to the ice with great effort, determination, and love for the game of hockey.

In August, TMZ Sports reported Kane obtained a temporary restraining order against his estranged wife, Anna, amid allegations she physically abused him. 

Anna Kane filed a restraining order application in September, alleging Evander had a "history of domestic violence" against her. Both of them dropped their domestic violence restraining orders against the other last month as they move forward with other pending issues related to their divorce, per Curtis Pashelka of the Bay Area News Group. 

Kane has played three full seasons with the Sharks after they acquired him in February 2018 prior to the trade deadline in a deal with the Buffalo Sabres. 

The 30-year-old has appeared in 212 regular-season games with San Jose. His suspension to start this season is set to end after Sunday's game against the Chicago Blackhawks.