Sharks’ Evander Kane suspended by NHL

CLICK HERE if you are having a problem viewing the video on a mobile device

LAS VEGAS — Sharks forward Evander Kane was given a three-game suspension by the NHL on Tuesday, two days after he was ejected from a preseason game with the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena for abuse of officials.

As part of the discipline announced by the league, Kane will also forfeit $112,903.23 of his average annual salary of $7 million.

If Kane does not appeal the suspension, the earliest he could return to the Sharks’ lineup would be Oct. 8 on the road against the Nashville Predators. The Sharks play Wednesday and Friday against the Golden Knights in a home-and-home series to begin the regular season, then play in Anaheim on Saturday to start a three-game road trip.

Kane was suspended under NHL Rule 40.4, Category III, for physical abuse of officials. The rule reads in part, “Any player who, by his actions, physically demeans an official or physically threatens an official by (but not limited to) throwing a stick or any other piece of equipment or object at or in the general direction of an official … or who deliberately applies physical force to an official solely for the purpose of getting free of such an official during or immediately following an altercation shall be suspended for not less than three (3) games.”

Per NHL rules, any appeal by Kane would be heard by commissioner Gary Bettman and Kane would remain suspended in the meantime. The NHL would try to hear an appeal prior the second game of the suspension, which would be Friday.

During an altercation in the third period of Sunday’s game, Golden Knights defenseman Deryk Engelland cross-checked Kane in the side. Kane then turned around and slashed Engelland, but his stick also made contact with linesman Kiel Murchison, who was holding onto the back of Engelland’s jersey.

Later in the sequence, Murchison skated to grab the front of Kane’s jersey, but almost immediately after, Kane landed on the ice with Murchison on top of him. When Kane got up and with the linesman still holding on, Kane gave Murchison a shove with his left arm, upset at what he felt at the time was an excessive use of force.

Kane was assessed a game misconduct for abuse of officials.

“Talk about abuse of an official? How about abuse of a player? It’s an absolute joke,” Kane said after the game.

Kane, 28, tied for third on the Sharks last season with 30 goals, is expected to play another huge role for the Sharks this year, particularly after Joe Pavelski, Joonas Donskoi and Gus Nyquist all departed via free agency. Kane was set to start the year on the Sharks’ second line with center Tomas Hertl.

Kane and the Sharks agreed to a seven-year, $49 million deal in May 2018, just weeks before he was set to become an unrestricted free agent. Kane was initially acquired by the Sharks from the Buffalo Sabres in February of that season.

Related Articles Goalie assist: How Evgeni Nabokov guided both Anton Khudobin, Andrei Vasilevskiy

Boughner, Wilson explain how they plan to bring Sharks back to contention

Sharks name Bob Boughner coach — now comes the hard part for Doug Wilson

Former Sharks providing full value to Stanley Cup-bound teams

Home sweet home? Giants, visitors at Oracle Park, tie franchise record in win This is the second time Kane has been suspended for an incident involving a Golden Knights player. In Game 1 of the San Jose’s second round playoff series with Vegas in 2018, Kane was suspended for one game by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety for cross-checking Pierre-Edouard Bellemare. He received a five-minute major and a game misconduct.

NHL teams have until 2 p.m. Pacific time on Tuesday to submit their opening night 23-man rosters.

The Sharks are scheduled to practice Tuesday afternoon in Las Vegas.

Share this: Print

View more on The Mercury News