Back In Teal?

With unrestricted free agency starting on July 13 this year, the frenzy normally seen on Canada Day where NHL GMs and players try to agree on money, no-trade clauses, and term will occur two weeks into July, allowing players and agents more time to sell their talents while GMs and owners decide how many more luxury boxes they have to sell to sign the hottest free agent. One player who may be forced to wait, however, is Evander Kane as the winger comes off a solid campaign with the Oilers, but could be sitting in free agency limbo for longer than he wants, thereby preventing him from signing a maximum-dollar deal after his run with Edmonton.

Kane, as you may have heard, filed a grievance through the NHLPA regarding his contract with the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks terminated his contract following reports that he breached his player contract by traveling to Vancouver while in the AHL's COVID-19 protocol with the San Jose Barracuda. The Sharks placed him on unconditional waivers in January, and the NHL accepted the reason given by the Sharks - the breach of COVID protocol - to terminate the contact, making Kane a free agent.

Kane moved on from the team and signed with the Edmonton Oilers for the remainder of the season, but filed the grievance days after the Sharks terminated his contract, claiming that the Sharks still owed him $7 million per season through 2024-25 because the termination of the contract was wrongful. Because the NHL viewed the termination as being legal, Kane was permitted to sign with Edmonton despite there being this legal matter to resolve.

The arbitrator who heard the arguments was working towards a solution, but he was unavailable throughout the entirety of June. As a result, there is no resolution yet as Evander Kane, staring at unrestricted free agency, awaits to see if the Sharks are paying him or if he can sign elsewhere and leave this all behind. Addressed by Gary Bettman and Bill Daly in their "State of the Union" address this evening, it sounds like we're no closer to a decision today than what we were back in Janaury.

What matters, though, is that if the arbitrator rules that the Sharks' termination of Kane's contract was wrong, Kane would still contractually be a San Jose Sharks forward, and any new deal that he signs with another NHL team would be null and void. It would also add $7 million in average salary back to San Jose's total salaries, thereby putting the Sharks over the salary cap limit and preventing them from signing players.

Oh what a tangled web Kane has weaved.

With the Sharks entering the buyout period from July 1 until July 12 with potential contracts they wish to buyout, not knowing what Kane's status is with the club will certainly affect whether they can buy certain players out since buyout money counts against the salary cap. It seems pretty obvious that neither San Jose wants Kane in town nor does Kane want to wear the teal of the Sharks any longer, but this is entirely about the money that Kane feels San Jose owes him as opposed to having a roster spot.

Kane, of course, could be traded if he ends up being part of the Sharks, and that would move Kane out of San Jose quickly. The problem, once again, is that a team has to be willing to absorb's Kane's $7 million annual cap hit as opposed to possibly signing him as a free agent for less, so there may be some creative accounting done in this scenario once more if Kane's contract is restored.

Whatever is decided will affect both the Sharks and Evander Kane, but one would think that the arbitrator would simply make things easy by ruling that the termination of Kane's contact was valid. Kane would become an unrestricted free agent, the Sharks wouldn't have to worry about his salary or having to make a trade to rid themselves of Kane's contact, and 31 other NHL teams would be able to determine whether or not Kane is a good fit for them compared to other free agent players.

Whatever is known is that the delay by the arbitrator isn't helping, and this matter needs to be resolved sooner rather than later. Kane's contract was terminated in January, and the matter still isn't resolved six months later. There have been international disputes and wars settled in less time than what it's taken for this arbitrator to rule whether the Sharks are required to pay Kane or not. With all signs pointing to the Sharks not wanting Kane back and Kane not wanting to ever wear a Sharks jersey again, there's a quick and easy resolution to this dispute that would technically satisfy all parties.

In other words, this ruling is long overdue, and the clock continues to tick.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!