Will the Leafs take a look at Evander Kane if he becomes a UFA this week?
Things came to a boiling point on January 8th between 30-year-old Evander Kane and the San Jose Sharks, resulting in him being placed on waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract after he violated COVID-19 protocols for the second time - this time with the AHL's San Jose Barracuda. Assuming he clears, Kane will be free to sign wherever he wants. That means we need to ask ourselves, just like 30 other NHL teams will do within their own markets; should the Leafs pursue Evander Kane?
As good of a player as Kane is, he has proven time and time again that he is a distraction to the team he plays for. We saw things blow up in Winnipeg when he showed up late to a meeting in a tracksuit. Dustin Byfuglien reportedly threw the tracksuit into a shower.
It did not take long after that for Kane to be traded to the Buffalo Sabres. In 2016, as a member of the Sabres, Kane flew to Toronto to go to the NBA All Star Game. Kane stayed in Toronto and missed Sabres practice the next day. Knowing what we know now about Kane, it is hard to sympathize with him after he was suspended by the team for this.
Now as a member of the San Jose Sharks there have been many controversies. I'm sure that many of you are aware of Kane's gambling debts, which have been well documented. Currently it is reported that Kane is over 26 million dollars in debt. He has already declared bankruptcy, but even his bankruptcy claim is being challenged by the creditors. That being said, it is not a distraction that the Leafs need.
This season, Kane has been doing his best impression of Antonio Brown. He was suspended 21 games by the NHL after being caught using a fake vaccinated card. Kane was then sent down to the San Jose Barracuda, where Kane was having a quietly good start to his season and staying out of the spotlight. That is, until Saturday.
It is being reported that Evander Kane allegedly travelled home to British-Colombia while he was in COVID protocols in December. It was another example of the forward shooting himself in the foot. Kane was then told to report back to San Jose and failed to do so until late this week. This time the Sharks have had enough and are going to attempt terminating the 30-year-olds contract.
Due to the locker room culture that the Leafs have built, the Leafs should not be one of the teams who take a look at Kane. Kyle Dubas has been very open about changing hockey culture and say what you want about him, but at the very least, you know that the people he brings in will be good people. We have seen what Wayne Simmonds has been doing with the Hockey Diversity Alliance, John Tavares with the John Tavares Foundation and Mitch Marner with his Mitch Marner Assist Fund, but it doesn't stop there. Dubas and Morgan Rielly have marched in Toronto's pride parade in the past and Travis Dermott has been using pride tape in support of the LGBTQ2+ community. These are just some examples of how involved the Leafs are with initiatives that benefit the broader community.
I hope that Evander Kane gets the help he needs, but he has refused to help himself. Someone like that doesn't deserve the privilege of playing in the NHL and wearing the blue and white. I hope the organization feels the same way.
