SAN JOSE — Over the first eight-plus years of his NHL career, Evander Kane developed a reputation for being a locker room distraction.

He got exiled from Winnipeg after he violated a team dress code and a teammate in Buffalo called him “selfish” last winter during a fight in practice. Now, his most-recent teammates on the Sharks are opening their arms, inviting him to re-sign with the organization this offseason.

Head coach Pete DeBoer said Kane would be welcomed back in the Sharks dressing room.

“With open arms,” said DeBoer, who also coached Kane on Team Canada at the 2010 IIHF World Championships.

“I liked the idea of him through my small experience with him, and when you’re around a guy for two-three months and in the trenches with him, both in good times and in tough times, you get to learn more about people and he is exactly what I thought he was — which is great.”

Get Sharks news in your inbox. Sign up now for the free Sharks Report newsletter.

Kane played a key role in the Sharks run to their 13th playoff berth in 14 years. The Sharks compiled an 16-9-1 record with Kane in the lineup after they acquired him at the trade deadline. Kane produced 19 points in 26 games with the team.

At this point, Kane is keeping his options open. He described his experience in San Jose as “really really positive,” but he isn’t prepared to commit to anything seven-plus weeks before the NHL’s free agency period opens up on July 1.

Entering his prime years at age 26, this will be the most-lucrative contract of Kane’s career and his stock price is likely on the rise in lieu of the role he played in the Sharks success down the stretch.

“Common sense tells you, there are three priorities that you look for as a player: money, chance to win and lifestyle,” Kane said. “Those are the three priorities and it just depends on how you rank them.”

Like our Sharks Facebook page for more San Jose Sharks news, commentary and conversation.

If Kane re-signs, the Sharks 2019 No. 1 pick will go to the Buffalo Sabres, a stipulation in their Feb. 26 deal, which also included a conditional fourth-round pick from San Jose and prospect Danny O’Regan. In the event that Kane signs elsewhere, the Sharks 2019 first-round pick will turn into a second rounder.

Doug Wilson didn’t leave any ambiguity in expressing how he feels about Kane. The Sharks general manager intends to sit down with Kane and his agent, “in the next little while.”

“He’s difference maker,” Wilson said.

“He had a clean slate. He wants to be a great player, we did our research, he came in here and he’s judged by his actions and his experiences here. He played through a couple of injuries. I think he fit in very well with this group, not only as a player but as a person.”

Logan Couture called Kane a “great teammate” and said the Sharks are hoping he returns next season. Couture said the Sharks didn’t see any signs of the “character issues” that plagued Kane during his stints in Winnipeg and Buffalo.

“We want him back. He’s fit in well,” Couture said. “You don’t listen to what people said about him before. Just getting to know him over these past few months, he’s a great teammate, he cares, he wants to win. He was fun to play with.”

The Sharks will have more than enough cap space to re-sign Kane if the price is right. Wilson will have roughly $20 million in space available this offseason, but bringing back Kane isn’t the only item on his to-do list. Joe Thornton is also a pending-unrestricted free agent, Couture and Joe Pavelski are eligible for contract extensions on July 1 and the team is among the contenders to sign New York Islanders superstar John Tavares, the biggest free agent to hit the market in more than a decade.

Pavelski, who racked up 18 points in 17 games down the stretch after Kane joined his line, said the Sharks “absolutely” want the 26-year old to re-sign with the club.

“He brought a lot of good stuff to this team,” Pavelski said.

Related Articles 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

Sharks will soon make Bob Boughner their full-time coach, per report Brent Burns suggested that Kane meshed particularly well in the Sharks dressing room because the culture of the team gives players the space to be themselves.

“We’ve got a lot of different personalities. A lot of different people in here,” Burns said. “He’s been a lot of fun. He was a huge addition on the ice, but off the ice, as well. You see the work he obviously puts in — the guy’s shredded.

“He added a lot mentally, physically, on and off the ice for our team.”