Significant update in Evander Kane’s potential trade

Over the weekend, it was reported that Evander Kane was back at the San Jose Sharks’ facility and skating by himself as his teammates held their game day morning skates at SAP Center.

Kane was suspended 21 games in mid-October over a violation of the NHL’s COVID-19 health and safety protocol, reportedly due to his use of a fake vaccine card. Kane has served 17 games of that suspension, and will first be eligible to return to the active roster on Nov. 30 against the New Jersey Devils.

While he is awaiting his return, Sharks teammates have made it clear they are not looking forward to his return which has prompted many rumours to claim that GM Doug Wilson is hoping to trade Kane as soon as possible.

On Tuesday, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman provided an important update on a potential trade, stating that the Sharks are even willing to absorb part of Kane’s salary to make a transaction happen.

“(Evander) Kane on his contract has a 3-team trade list, I don’t know who’s going to trade for him right now but one of the things that I have heard is that the Sharks have let it be known that if somebody is interested they would retain”.

While Kane is a very controversial player, he did lead the Sharks with 49 points during the pandemic-shortened 2021 season.

He could find a rival club interested in acquiring him, despite his behaviour. Especially if the Sharks are seriously open to retain part of his deal. Kane has three seasons left on his contract after this one at a $7 million average annual salary.

To be continued as his return date fast approaches…