Sabres’ Kane given an out
A New York judge will dismiss the charges against Buffalo Sabres forward Evander Kane stemming from scuffles with women in a bar if he stays out of future trouble, according to a prosecutor who described the athlete’s behavior as “arrogant, boorish and surly, but not criminal.”
The arrangement is contingent on the 25-year-old player avoiding legal issues for the next six months. Kane did not speak during or after his brief appearance in Buffalo City Court yesterday.
Kane’s lawyer said the action does not include an admission of guilt, and Kane still denies the allegations.
“Evander has steadfastly maintained that he did nothing wrong,” attorney Paul Cambria told reporters after the hearing. “Nothing has changed.”
Kane was arrested in July, a month after he was accused of grabbing three women by the hair and neck in separate encounters on the same night in a downtown Buffalo bar. Kane was removed from the club by bouncers. He was charged with misdemeanor trespass and noncriminal violations of harassment and disorderly conduct.
Erie County District Attorney Michael Flaherty said cameras inside the bar captured “images of (Kane) in contact with other patrons, grabbing a girl by her hair, grabbing another girl by her wrist and then scuffling with some bouncers as they try to escort him.
“His conduct could be described as arrogant, surly and boorish,” the prosecutor said, “but at the end of the day what he did did not rise to the level of a criminal offense.”
Flaherty described the outcome, called an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal, as routine in cases where someone with no criminal history is charged with low-level offenses.
Cambria said the decision was appropriate and that Kane was treated like any other defendant.
With the case wrapping up, Kane “is going to pay attention and be the hockey star that he is,” Cambria said.
Kane has not played since being injured in the Sabres season opener Oct. 13. He cracked three ribs when he crashed into the end boards during the second period of Buffalo’s 4-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens.
Kane had 20 goals and had 15 assists last season for the Sabres after being acquired in a trade with Winnipeg. He missed 17 games with a knee injury.
Elsewhere in the NHL — Dallas Stars forward Ales Hemsky will miss 5-6 months after surgery for a hip injury that general manager Jim Nill said was sustained during the World Cup of Hockey.
Nill said the surgery was performed yesterday. Hemsky, who was on injured reserve early in the season with what was called a groin injury, played one game this season against Columbus, recording one shot in 16 minutes. He played for the Czech Republic in the World Cup.
The Stars, who had the best record in the Western Conference last season, have dealt with a series of injuries so far this season.
Forward Patrick Sharp has been on injured reserve since Oct. 21 with concussion-like symptoms, and Cody Eakin has missed the regular season with a knee injury. Jamie Benn has just one goal in five games while dealing with an unspecified ailment.