NHL brings details of Kane investigation to light
SAN JOSE » Specific details about the NHL’s inquiry into Evander Kane have come to light, with the league saying there are two investigations underway into the San Jose Sharks forward.
The NHL’s initial statement about Kane on Sept. 22, when it cleared him of allegations that he gambled on league games, said only that additional unrelated claims “involving potential wrongdoing by Mr. Kane” had been brought to their attention.
The NHL at the time did not specify what the new allegations were. But the league has now stated that one “involves serious accusations” related to his past behavior toward his estranged wife, and the other involves “allegations of inappropriate behavior potentially jeopardizing the health and safety of Club members.”
Last week, Anna Kane leveled accusations of domestic violence and sexual assault against the Sharks player in a restraining order application filed in Santa Clara County Family Court.
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on Tuesday, the second investigation centers around a possible violation of the NHL’s COVID protocols. It is unclear what these alleged violations were or when they may have occurred.
Sharks coach Bob Boughner declined to comment Tuesday when asked about Sportsnet’s report that Kane violated COVID protocols. Requests for comment from general manager Doug Wilson, made through a team spokesman, were not immediately answered.
The Sharks’ said at the time they were “aware of the additional allegations that are unrelated to the National Hockey League’s initial investigation of Evander Kane. We take the allegations very
seriously and have been in communication with the NHL. The League will continue to have our full cooperation regarding the ongoing investigation.”
The NHL on July 31 announced it was opening an investigation into Kane shortly after Anna Kane, on social media, alleged Evander gambled
on NHL games and was throwing games to win money — clear violations of league rules.
Evander Kane — in a statement issued via his Twitter account — quickly denied gambling on NHL games or conspiring to fix games, which he reiterated in an interview with ESPN earlier this month.