Former Jets Star Forward Signs Overseas in Russia

On Tuesday, former Winnipeg Jets forward Evander Kane has signed a new deal overseas, agreeing to terms with Sibir of the KHL.  It will not be Kane's first stint in the Russian league as he played for Dinamo Minsk during the 2012-13 NHL lockout.

The move is surprising, given reports that the 35-year-old, who was selected fourth overall by the Atlanta Thrashers in 2009, had multiple offers to remain in North America. It is not clear whether those were NHL contracts, minor-league deals to play in the AHL, ECHL, or opportunities elsewhere.

Kane most recently played for his hometown Vancouver Canucks, finishing this past season with 13 goals and 18 assists for 31 points in 71 games.

Off-ice concerns have followed him throughout his career, including long-standing reports of conflicts in the locker room. This past September, former teammate Kurtis Gabriel described Kane as habitually late to team meetings and routinely unprofessional in how he dressed. Gabriel also called him a bully who leaned on his toughness to intimidate teammates.

Kane responded on social media with a cryptic message. "I can't wait for the day I decide to share my truths. The only difference? Mine will come with facts, receipts, and the actual truth," he wrote.

"A lot of people have become far too comfortable speaking publicly while relying on my silence. Enjoy it while it lasts. There are plenty of bombs with plenty of names attached."

Between 2013 and 2021, Kane also faced legal controversies, gambling-related debt and bankruptcy, and an NHL investigation into match-fixing that cleared him of betting on games, along with repeated reports of conflicts with teammates.

Now Kane will take his game to Russia, where he will face some of the best talent the country has to offer.

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