Evander Kane names the NHL's 'worst city to play in'

Throughout his career in the National Hockey League Vancouver Canucks forward Evander Kane has been no stranger to controversy. Kane's willingness, or perhaps desire, to be in the spotlight has landed him in trouble at times and that may have once again been the case this past week when Kane appeared on livestream alongside a popular content creator.

Kane was featured on a livestream alongside N3on (real name Mikyle Rafiq) on live streaming platform Kick when he was tasked with fielding questions being asked by the live viewers tuning in to the show. Some of those questions were difficult ones that Kane wouldn't normally face during an NHL media scrum, including being asked what the worst team to play for in the NHL is in his opinion.

Now Kane could have gone the easy route and chosen the cop out answer by throwing the team that drafted him under the bus, Kane was drafted by the now defunct Atlanta Thrashers, but instead Kane risked the wrath of an NHL fan base with his honest but blunt response to the question.

"I mean I might as well just say it," said a reluctant Kane. "It's a place I used to play, Winnipeg."

Kane clarified that he had no animosity in particular for the people of Winnipeg or their love for the sport of hockey, but instead pointed to the small market conditions as conditions that simply didn't work for him as a high profile professional athlete.

"It's not that it's bad people or that it's a bad hockey town, it's a great hockey town, it's just that there's not that much to do," said Kane, "You're right in the middle of Canada where there's not any other real major city around."

Although Kane's time with the Jets came early during his time in the NHL, it seems to have left a lasting impression on him.

"As an NHL player for the Jets you're the only game in town and it's a really small town so it's tough to go about your day outside of the rink," said Kane.

Kane was of course put in a tough spot when faced with such an uncomfortable question in front of thousands of live viewers but, while he did do his best to give a diplomatic answer, I still think his comments will rub some fans the wrong way.