Kane to ink deal with Oilers
Evander Kane, the embattled NHL veteran whose contract with the San Jose Sharks was terminated earlier this month, is set to sign with the Edmonton Oilers, multiple reports said Thursday.
The deal would be for one year and the veteran minimum of US$750,000, with a signing bonus and a full no-movement clause, Sportsnet reported.
The signing hinged on the results of an investigation into an alleged breach of COVID-19 protocol that marked the final straw for Kane’s tenure in San Jose. That investigation concluded without sufficient evidence to discipline Kane any further, the NHL announced Thursday evening.
The NHL previously suspended Kane for 21 games for submitting a fake vaccination card and the Sharks assigned him to their American Hockey League affiliate. Then, Kane reportedly travelled from California to his home in Vancouver in December after he tested positive for COVID-19, in violation of the AHL’S protocol.
The Sharks placed him on waivers and terminated his contract once he cleared. The players’ association filed a grievance over the move while the NHL conducted a probe into the situation.
Kane is eligible to play as soon as he signs. The Washington Capitals were also interested in Kane, Sportsnet reported.
The ECHL suspended forward Jacob Panetta for the rest of the 2021-22 season on Thursday for the gesture he made in a game last Saturday.
South Carolina Stingrays defenceman Jordan Subban, who is Black, said Panetta made monkey gestures toward him in overtime of the game. The Jacksonville Icemen released Panetta the following day, and the league suspended him temporarily.
Panetta denied the gesture was racial in nature.
In all, the suspension amounts to 38 games. The league said Panetta, 26, can apply for a reduction of the suspension and reinstatement after March 17 “pending successful completion of a learning experience conducted in conjunction with the National Hockey League’s Player Inclusion Committee.”
Earlier this week, Panetta issued a video statement that contended it was a “a tough guy, bodybuilder gesture” that he directed toward Jordan Subban and that he has made similar gestures in the past during “on-ice confrontations.”
He apologized to Subban and his family.
Former outfielder Gene Clines, part of Major League Baseball's first all-minority lineup for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1971, has died at the age of 75.
Clines was the starting centre-fielder for the Pirates on Sept. 1, 1971, the night manager Danny Murtaugh filled out a lineup card with minority players at every position, including Dock Ellis at pitcher. Clines was flanked by Willie Stargell and Roberto Clemente in the outfield.
The Pirates went on to win the 1971 World Series.
Only three members of the lineup are still alive from that night in 1971 — Dave Cash (third base), Al Oliver (first base) and Manny Sanguillen (catcher).
Clines became a coach for many teams after he retired, including hitting/outfield coach for San Francisco from 1995-2002.