SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Sharks and Evander Kane have reached an agreement to settle the grievance that the NHL Players’ Association filed on the forward’s behalf in January.
Kane was owed $19 million in cash over the final three years of the seven-year, $49 million contract that he and the Sharks agreed to in May 2018.
Kane, who signed a four-year, $20.5 million contract extension with Edmonton in July, is owed $16.5 million by the Oilers over the next three years. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that the settlement addresses that difference in pay, with the Sharks owing money to Kane and likely taking on a salary cap charge of still-unpublicized value.
ESPN’s Kevin Weekes first reported Friday that a settlement agreement had been reached. Kane’s agent, Dan Milstein, did not wish to comment when contacted by this news organization.
The Sharks confirmed the settlement Friday morning, saying in a statement that “the agreement has been approved by the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association. We are satisfied that its terms will not adversely impact the team, either financially or competitively, in this or future seasons.”
The Sharks terminated the remainder of Kane’s deal in January for what it believed was a material breach of his contract and a violation of AHL COVID-19 protocols. Kane was playing for the San Jose Barracuda at the time after he was waived by the Sharks in late November 2021.
At the time, the NHL felt the Sharks had proper cause to void Kane’s contract. The NHLPA, though, quickly filed a grievance on Kane’s behalf, with Milstein saying on social media that the Sharks did not have sufficient cause to justify the contract termination.
Wednesday, Sharks general manager Mike Grier hinted that the team and Kane’s camp had been working towards a settlement, adding that he and the organization were ready to move on.
“Hopefully, we’ll be able to put that behind us and we can move on from it,” Grier said. “It’s been something that’s been talked about a lot, it’s taken a lot of people’s time and effort but so hopefully we’ll be able to put some closure to it.
“The people on our side are working on it, the PA and the league, and (Kane’s) representative are all working to get this thing settled as quickly as possible.”
The Sharks are hosting a Rookie Faceoff tournament this weekend and begin their training camp on Wednesday.
