Evander Kane facing suspension for “predatory” elbow to the head.

The National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety is set to issue yet another suspension, and I think it is safe to say that there will be relatively little debate surrounding this incident. 

On Friday night the San Jose Sharks faced off against the Winnipeg Jets and it was during that game that San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane took some clear liberties with his opponents health. Kane delivered what can only be described as a vicious elbow to the head of Winnipeg Jets defenseman Neal Pionk, a cheap shot that left the Jets blue liner down on the ice and seeing stars. Pionk was slow to get up after this hit and upon watching the slow motion replay there was no question as to why the Jets defenseman seemed so sluggish following the hit. Kane drove the point of his elbow right into the side of Pionk's head, sandwiching it against the boards in the process. 

Kane, already an extremely unpopular player in the city of Winnipeg due to his time as a member of the Jets, was showered with boos by the loyal Jets fans in attendance for this one and no doubt he has now placed a big target on his back for when these two teams will next face one another. Kane will definitely have to look over his shoulder the next time he's in Winnipeg, but the Jets may not be the only team out for revenge. Earlier in the season Kane was involved in a very similar play, although this one went unnoticed by the Department of Player Safety. 

First take a look at the hit on Pionk:

This hit looks eerily similar to the one that Kane delivered to Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Noah Hanifin earlier in the season and you have to wonder, had the NHL's Department of Player Safety had done their at the time, if this incident could have been avoided. Hanifin did not look hurt on the play, although again it was a clear elbow to the head from Kane, and perhaps that was the reason why that infraction was ignore and the hit on Pionk was treated more seriously. Either way it seems very likely that Kane will be sitting out a few games.