Interim GM Will is dealing with `unprecedented' Kane grievance

With the NHL Players' Association's grievance against the Sharks, filed in January on behalf of Evander Kane, possibly remaining without a resolution until after the start of free agency, interim general manager Joe Will said he is treating the matter like a salary arbitration case.

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said June 15 that the independent arbitrator overseeing the case was unavailable for the rest of the month, increasing the possibility that a decision would not be announced until after July 13 when Kane is set to become an unrestricted free agent.

The delay could also affect the Sharks' plans in free agency, as they would not know for sure how much money they would have available to spend to sign new players. The Sharks, according to CapFriendly, have roughly $5.6 million in cap space available, although that number can fluctuate.

The Sharks also have a handful of restricted free agents still to sign, including goalie Kaapo Kahkonen, defenseman Mario Ferraro and forward Noah Gregor.

“I look at it like salary arbitration,” Will said. “Salary arbitration is a process that happens after free agency, and quite often, you just have to plan for an outcome you can't predict.

“We've been through it before. So you have to be cautious in all areas because there are various outcomes in this decision. It's unprecedented in the National Hockey League, with a situation like this.”

Believing Kane breached his contract and violated AHL COVID-19 protocols while he was in the AHL, the Sharks in January terminated what was left of the seven-year, $49 million deal the two sides agreed to in May 2018.

If it is determined the Sharks had sufficient cause to terminate the deal, then the team is free and clear of their financial obligation to Kane, roughly $22.9 million.

However, if the arbitrator rules that the Sharks did not have sufficient grounds, the team could still be on the hook for all or some of the money that Kane was still owed. Kane's deal carried an annual cap hit of $7 million.

It is possible that the NHLPA, Kane, and the Sharks reach a settlement before the arbitrator's decision is final. That would give the Sharks some certainty as to how much of Kane's salary they would have to retain as part of their cap ledger, and Kane would get money back that was originally owed to him.

“Anything that comes down with this, although there may be a possibility to be done before free agency, we have to plan like the grievance process is all going to be after and plan accordingly,” Will said. WILL ON VLASIC >> Friday marked the first day that NHL teams were able to buy out player contracts, but Will wasn't tipping his hand as to what he'll do with defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic's deal.

Vlasic has four years remaining on his eight-year, $56 million contract. With a buyout, the Sharks, per CapFriendly, would save a combined $8.8 million over the next two seasons, money they could put toward acquiring some scoring depth.

Last year, the Sharks waited until the final day possible to buy out the final three years of goalie Martin Jones' contract. In the days prior, the Sharks had tried to trade Jones, but to no avail. This year's buyout period ends July 12.

“We're aware that (the buyout window) is open. Buyouts are usually more of a last decision on people,” Will said. “You look at other things until you get to there. When you go through that phase, people remain on the salary cap. It's useful in a few situations, but not in everything. There are usually better solutions.”