The NHL is reportedly investigating claims that Evander Kane crossed the U.S.-Canada border while still in COVID-19 protocols, possibly delaying his ability to sign with a new team.
Another day; another update in the Evander Kane saga.
As Kane continues to court suitors as a free agent after the San Jose Sharks terminated his contract on Monday, an NHL investigation into the claims that he violated COVID-19 protocols may delay that process.
According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the NHL has notified teams that they are in the midst of investigating claims made by the Sharks, as part of the grievance filed against the team by the NHLPA, that Kane crossed the U.S-Canada border while still being in COVID-19 protocols and without obtaining proper medical clearance.
Kane, who was with the AHL's San Jose Barracuda at the time, reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 on Dec. 21, placing him in AHL health and safety protocols that require players to complete a 10-day quarantine.
However, Kane reportedly took a flight from San Jose to Vancouver on Dec. 29 before his quarantine was over, with the Sharks alleging that he did not receive the appropriate medical clearance to do so, which therein violates the league's COVID protocols.
This alleged violation, while already serious enough in its own right, takes on even greater importance when considering that Kane has already been suspended for violating the NHL's COVID-19 protocols earlier this season, allegedly presenting the league with a false vaccination card prior to training camp in September that earned him a 21-game suspension.
With the list of teams interested in Kane's services reportedly quite lengthy, this investigation may delay the troubled winger from signing with any of them for the foreseeable future.
Perhaps, it might even give teams a chance to reconsider the type of presence they are adding to their locker room.