San Jose Sharks

The NHL is looking into whether San Jose Sharks winger Evander Kane submitted a fake COVID-19 vaccination card, according to Front Office Sports' A.J. Perez.

Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet originally reported Sept. 28 that Kane was the subject of an inquiry into a potential violation of the league's COVID-19 protocols.

Neither the Sharks nor the NHL provided a statement to Perez about the allegation.

While NHL players aren't required to get the COVID-19 vaccine, they aren't exempt from Canada's travel restrictions. The league's protocols outline how unvaccinated players could be denied entry or subject to quarantine periods when traveling to the country.

Beyond any consequences Kane might face from the NHL, Perez noted purchasing or using a fake COVID-19 vaccination card is punishable by up to five years in prison in the United States. Using one while attempting to enter Canada carries a fine of up to $750,000 and as much as a six-month prison sentence.

Kane had already been the subject of an NHL investigation.

On Sept. 22, league officials cleared the 30-year-old after his estranged wife, Anna, said he had bet on Sharks games and intentionally threw games for gambling purposes.

Per Perez, Anna Kane also filed court documents alleging sexual assault and domestic abuse. Kane's attorney told Perez the winger "denies ever abusing Ms. Kane or their daughter Kensington, whom he cherishes."

Bay Area News Group's Curtis Pashelka noted the league appeared to have amended the wording of its initial statement regarding the results of its gambling investigation.

Did the NHL edit its initial news release about E. Kane when it cleared him of gambling allegations? You tell me.
The first photo is of the last 3 paragraphs of the email that was sent out at 3:34 p.m. (PT) on Sept 22. The second is of the news release as it now reads online pic.twitter.com/VPEacizMai

— Curtis Pashelka (@CurtisPashelka) September 28, 2021

The first alluded to "unrelated allegations ... involving potential wrongdoing by Mr. Kane." The second outlined "serious accusations relating to his past behavior toward Ms. Kane" and "allegations of inappropriate behavior potentially jeopardizing the health and safety of Club members."

In the wake of the allegations of abuse against Kane, the Sharks said on Sept. 22 he wouldn't attend training camp "until further notice."

The NHL announced Wednesday that it found no evidence that San Jose Sharks left winger Evander Kane gambled on league games or negatively impacted his own team's games.

Reporter Elliotte Friedman shared the release:

https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1440808331900162052

The release did point out, "Additional unrelated allegations, however, involving potential wrongdoing by Mr. Kane have been brought to our attention. These allegations are being thoroughly investigated."

The Sharks released a statement saying they will continue to cooperate with the NHL and revealing that Kane will not join the team at training camp for the time being:

Statement from the #SJSharks. pic.twitter.com/ZiKEo8LgmH

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) September 23, 2021

Zac Al-Khateeb of Sporting News noted Kane's estranged wife, Anna Kane, accused her husband of being a "compulsive gambling addict" who bet on his own games with bookies.

In July, the NHL announced it was investigating the allegations, which it took "very seriously."

The Sharks also released a statement: "The Sharks have been in contact today with the (NHL) about the serious allegations made against Evander Kane.  We support a full and transparent investigation into the situation to maintain the integrity of the game and consistency with our team values."

Kane denied the allegations in August:

pic.twitter.com/CgkRgD8vT2

— Evander Kane (@evanderkane) August 1, 2021

He also joined ESPN's Linda Cohn and further denied the accusations even though he acknowledged he had a gambling addiction that contributed to his need to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in January.

"Obviously [the accusations are] incredibly false," he told Cohn. "It's unfortunate that transpired, and it's unfortunate that those false allegations were made. I understood the magnitude of them immediately. I know [they're] not true. I know none of what she was saying was true. I was very confident, comfortable with knowing that I was going to be exonerated and am going to be exonerated of those allegations."

The Cosmopolitan hotel and casino in Las Vegas sued Kane in April 2019 and said he didn't pay the $500,000 the casino extended him via gambling markers. The ESPN story noted the Cosmopolitan eventually dropped the case.

Kevin Kurz of The Athletic reported that "several of Evander Kane's teammates don't want the Sharks winger to return to the team next season."

On Wednesday, A.J. Perez of Front Office Sports obtained court documents revealing Kane was facing allegations of sexual assault and domestic violence from Anna.

TMZ Sports reported Anna filed for divorce in July.

San Jose Sharks winger Evander Kane is facing allegations of sexual assault and domestic violence by his estranged wife, Anna Kane. 

A.J. Perez of Front Office Sports obtained court documents that detailed Anna Kane's accusations as part of a domestic violence restraining order application filed on Tuesday. 

Perez noted the NHL declined to comment when asked about the accusations. 

Per TMZ Sports, Anna Kane filed for divorce on July 16. She also accused Evander Kane of gambling on NHL games, including intentionally throwing games he was playing in order to win money. 

In response to the betting accusation, Kane wrote on Twitter that he has "NEVER" bet or gambled on hockey, Sharks games and has never thrown a game he was playing in. 

Perez reported earlier this month that the NHL's investigation into the gambling accusations against Kane had stalled.

"An examination of betting trends for Sharks games last season didn’t show any abnormalities," Perez wrote. 

Anna Kane's domestic violence restraining order filing comes after Evander Kane obtained his own restraining order against her last month. 

TMZ Sports reported Evander Kane was granted a domestic violence temporary restraining order after he said Anna Kane hit him multiple times and threw things at him in the past. 

According to TMZ, Evander Kane has been seeking a permanent restraining order against Anna, with a hearing scheduled for some time in September. 

Kane is entering his fourth full season with the Sharks. He has also played for the Atlanta Thrashers, Winnipeg Jets and Buffalo Sabres in his NHL career.    

San Jose Sharks winger Evander Kane described allegations from his estranged wife, Anna Kane, that he bet on NHL games, including those he played in, as "incredibly false."

Kane told ESPN's Linda Cohn on Thursday he expects the NHL's investigation will clear him of any wrongdoing.

"It's unfortunate that transpired, and it's unfortunate that those false allegations were made," he said. "I understood the magnitude of them immediately. I know [they're] not true. I know none of what she was saying was true. I was very confident, comfortable with knowing that I was going to be exonerated and am going to be exonerated of those allegations."

https://twitter.com/OTLonESPN/status/1438562996956110853

Anna Kane made a series of posts on her Instagram story on July 31 that alleged her husband actively tried to lose games because he bet against his own team, per Zac Al-Khateeb of Sporting News.

"How does the NHL let a compulsive gambling addict still play when he's obviously throwing games with bookies to win money?" she wrote. "Hmm, maybe someone needs to address this."

She also alleged Kane had abandoned her, their one-year-old daughter and unborn son while going on a vacation in Europe, per Al-Khateeb.

The NHL immediately announced an investigation into the gambling allegations:

We intend to conduct a full investigation and will have no further comment at this time. (2/2)

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) July 31, 2021

Kane also posted a pair of statements on Twitter addressing the allegations he bet on the NHL and had abandoned his family:

pic.twitter.com/CgkRgD8vT2

— Evander Kane (@evanderkane) August 1, 2021

In March, Daniel Kaplan and Kevin Kurz of The Athletic reported Kane and the Sharks informed a federal bankruptcy court that terminating his seven-year, $49 million contract that runs through the 2024-25 season was an option as part of his bankruptcy proceedings, an idea that met sharp resistance from his creditors.

The 30-year-old Canadian's court filings showed debts of $26.8 million and assets of $10.2 million, according to The Athletic.

Kane told Cohn he sought treatment for his gambling addiction, which helped him understand "gambling can't continue to live with me":

When you have a problem, sometimes you can't control your decision-making at that time. I think that was an example of my problem getting the better of me. I had a gambling problem. And when you have a gambling problem, just like a drinking problem or a drug problem, sometimes you can't control your actions.

I think part of the worst thing that ever happened to me was winning big, because you think you can do it again. When you're an athlete, the competitive juices are flowing. And then when you lose, it even bothers you even more. You just keep digging a deeper hole. At the end of the day, it's something that I went through and I'm looking forward to moving [on].

Kane also addressed questions about his off-ice reputation after he was investigated twice by police in 2016 following allegations of assault while playing for the Buffalo Sabres. No charges were brought after the first allegation and he reached a plea agreement in the second case, which led to charges of trespassing, disorderly conduct and harassment being dropped after he completed the terms of the agreement, per ESPN.

The veteran forward told Cohn none of the allegations levied against him were true:

I'm in a white sport [and] I'm a Black player. I have a big personality that maybe sometimes rubs people the wrong way—but it's not meant to. I think unfortunately a lot of the issues I've had and the allegations that have been made about me are just completely not true. I'm not looking for people [to] feel sorry for me. That's the last thing I need. I'm not looking for people to feel bad for me. I'm just asking to be treated fairly and judged accordingly.

Kane was voted the Sharks' Player of the Year following the 2020-21 season after leading the team in goals (22), assists (27) and points (49).

Along with San Jose and Buffalo, he's also played for the Atlanta Thrashers and Winnipeg Jets across a 12-year NHL career.

In new court documents, San Jose Sharks winger Evander Kane says his estranged wife, Anna, was abusive to him on several occasions.

TMZ Sports reported Kane was granted a temporary restraining order against Anna after detailing at least four times when she became physically violent, beginning in 2019. The final incident took place in July, with Kane alleging his wife "dangerously swung around their baby daughter" during an argument.

Kane also alleges Anna punched him in the face during three other incidents detailed in the restraining order request. He is seeking a permanent restraining order.

The couple married in 2018, but Anna filed for divorce in July, alleging Evander bet on NHL games, cheated during their relationship and has been an absentee father to the couple's daughter. Kane has denied all allegations levied against him.

"I love my daughter. I will and always have taken care of my daughter in every way possible," Kane wrote in a tweet. "I have always made sure her mother has had everything she's needed and more. I have tried to de-escalate our divorce issues and be as civil and calm as anyone in this position could. I have tried to set up FaceTime calls and visits with her. I have had some FaceTime calls but not every day as I would like because of being restricted by her mom. She has refused me to see her and has unfortunately tried to use my daughter as leverage."

Anna is currently pregnant with the couple's second child.

Evander Kane's future with the San Jose Sharks is in doubt, as "several" teammates reportedly don't want him to return to the team next season, according to Kevin Kurz of The Athletic.

Kurz reported the Sharks have tried to trade him this offseason due to his "strained relationship with many of his teammates."

This comes after Kane's wife alleged on Instagram that the forward gambled on his own NHL games. The 30-year-old denied the accusations in a statement:

pic.twitter.com/CgkRgD8vT2

— Evander Kane (@evanderkane) August 1, 2021

The NHL announced it would conduct an investigation into the matter.

Kane's wife also posted that his teammates bought him a "Casino Gambling for Dummies" book, which comes after Kane filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy for liabilities of $26.8 million.

The 12-year NHL veteran has four years remaining of the initial seven-year, $49 million contract he signed with the Sharks.

Kane has remained an impact player on the ice, leading the team with 49 points in 56 games last season. He totaled 22 goals and 27 assists on the year, marking the fourth straight season with at least 20 of each.

He has been especially valuable on special teams, with seven power-play points and four short-handed points in 2020-21. In 2019-20, Kane had 14 power-play goals.

The production still hasn't been enough to help the Sharks reach the playoffs in either of the last two years. 

San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane released a statement Sunday to deny allegations made by his wife that he bet on games he played in.

Kane posted the statement on Twitter, along with another statement in which he denied not caring for his daughter:

pic.twitter.com/CgkRgD8vT2

— Evander Kane (@evanderkane) August 1, 2021

Kane's wife, Anna Kane, made multiple posts Saturday on Instagram alleging that Kane bet on NHL games (h/t Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers). Kane also said she was forced to sell her wedding ring in order to have money to survive and that the Sharks winger doesn't help support his daughter.

Following the posts, the NHL announced it would launch an investigation into the allegations:

We intend to conduct a full investigation and will have no further comment at this time. (2/2)

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) July 31, 2021

According to Emily Kaplan of ESPN, the league expects to have the investigation completed before training camp opens in September.

San Jose also released a statement on the matter, saying: "The Sharks have been in contact today with the [NHL] about the serious allegations made against Evander Kane. We support a full and transparent investigation into the situation to maintain the integrity of the game and consistency with our team values."

In Kane's first statement, he referred to Anna Kane as his "estranged wife and soon to be ex-wife." The 29-year-old also countered his wife's allegations by pointing out that the 2020-21 season was the best of his career.

Kane is a 12-year NHL veteran who has played for the Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets, Buffalo Sabres and Sharks.

Last season, Kane finished with 22 goals and 27 points for 49 points in 56 games. While it was his best individual year from a points-per-game perspective, San Jose struggled, finishing seventh in the West Division with just 49 points.

As part of the statement, Kane said he plans to fully cooperate with the NHL's investigation into his wife's allegations.

Kane does have a history of financial issues related to gambling; in 2019, a Las Vegas casino sued him for $500,000, alleging that he failed to pay back his debts.

Then, in January of this year, Kane filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy after accumulating $26.8 million in debt. As part of Kane's filing, it was noted that he has $10.2 million in assets despite signing a seven-year, $49 million contract extension with the Sharks in 2018.

Kane is in line to be a key player for the Sharks again in 2021-22, the fourth year of his seven-year extension.

The ownership group for the San Jose Sharks will begin accepting cryptocurrency for payments toward season tickets, luxury boxes and sponsorships effective June 15.

The Sharks will be the first NHL team that allows fans to pay in crypto for "large and recurring payments," per the Bay Area News Group's Curtis Pashelka.

Sharks president Jonathan Becher explained how it won't represent a big shift for the organization. 

"We’re accepting PayPal, so then by definition, we’re accepting cryptocurrency," he said. "Why not embrace it and make it more visible as opposed to just doing it through a third party?"

The Sacramento Kings were the first major sports team to accept Bitcoin when they allowed it as a form of payment for merchandise and tickets. Since then, the practice has become more widespread as cryptocurrencies gain more traction.

In March, the Oakland Athletics opened up the sale of 10 luxury suites for one bitcoin apiece. Veteran NFL offensive tackle Russell Okung became the first player to receive a portion of his contract in Bitcoin last December, with more players following suit.

The general volatility of cryptocurrencies does, however, raise questions over whether the trend is sustainable.

When the A's began their suite sale in March, for example, the price of one bitcoin was around $59,000. One bitcoin is currently worth around $35,000 after a recent downturn.

San Jose Sharks winger Evander Kane is facing a $15 million lawsuit from a financial lender, according to The Athletic's Daniel Kaplan.

Professional Bank is claiming in court that Kane defrauded the company when he received a $1.5 million loan in 2019 against his seven-year, $49 million contract with the Sharks.

"Kane was in default, including by him revoking the automatic payment that was to occur from the Sharks," Professional Bank's attorneys said in the suit.

Professional Bank is also contending Kane took out loans from multiple banks in such a way he didn't intend to pay back any of the money.

Kane filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in January, saying he had assets exceeding $10 million and liabilities approaching $27 million.

Per the Washington Post's Matt Bonesteel, the 29-year-old said he had nearly $16 million in unpaid loans and lost $1.5 million from gambling. He also listed $93,000 in monthly expenses, stemming in part from having his daughter, father, sister, grandmother and two uncles listed as dependents.

In April, a judge ruled Kane's case would remain under the Chapter 7 designation after a creditor wanted it changed to Chapter 11. Kaplan noted that creditors would have the opportunity to take a portion of his future earnings in Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

In addition to his ballooning debt, Kane formally filed for bankruptcy in part due to uncertainty about his availability for the 2020-21 season amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He chose to suit up for San Jose and has posted 45 points (22 goal, 23 assists) in 52 appearances.

Nobody has played more regular-season games in NHL history than San Jose Sharks forward Patrick Marleau.

Monday's contest against the Vegas Golden Knights was the 1,768th game of his career, which passed the legendary Gordie Howe's mark of 1,767.

IT’S OFFICIAL!

Patrick Marleau breaks all-time games played record. @SAPSports | #HistoryMarleaud pic.twitter.com/2PWJIMdAJQ

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) April 20, 2021

Patrick Marleau is OFFICIALLY the ALL-TIME leader in games played in the @NHL! pic.twitter.com/Vxr3bPJIjM

— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) April 20, 2021

A special moment for Patrick Marleau in Vegas.

Thank you @GoldenKnights and @NHL! #HistoryMarleaud pic.twitter.com/DEZWrr3UKL

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) April 20, 2021

Marleau even had custom gloves made for the occasion:

Patrick Marleau's custom mitts for tonight though. 👀🔥

(📸: @brandonmagnus) pic.twitter.com/USmuaU8bZd

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 19, 2021

The 41-year-old entered the league in the 1997-98 season for the Sharks and played in San Jose until he joined the Toronto Maples Leafs for the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. He rejoined the Sharks for the 2019-20 campaign, although they traded him to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

That didn't stop the Sharks from signing him again prior to the 2020-21 campaign, and it feels only fitting he is wearing their jersey when he sets this record.

The three-time All-Star is San Jose's all-time leader in a number of categories, including games, goals, points, game-winning goals and shots.

In all, he has 1,196 points on 566 goals and 630 assists in his career.