Agent: 'Lots of interest' in Evander Kane around NHL

Kane has not played a game for the Sharks this season, having started the 2021-22 campaign serving a 21-game suspension for using a fake COVID-19 vaccination card. Kane was later assigned to the Sharks' AHL club, the Barracuda, and told the press after his first practice that he was now fully vaccinated. However, the embattled winger reportedly violated league rules yet again by traveling to Vancouver in December while he was supposed to be in COVID-19 protocol following a positive test.

The Sharks said in a statement released on Saturday Kane was being released after violating the AHL's COVID protocol. The NHL Players Association has since filed a grievance and Milstein has claimed San Jose has no grounds to terminate Kane's contract.

Whether the COVID debacle is the main reason the Sharks waived Kane is anyone's guess, given the firestorm of drama that has engulfed the forward over the last two seasons. While Kane was the Sharks' leading scorer during the truncated 2021 season, he was also in the spotlight for amassing a large gambling debt and was later accused by his estranged wife of betting on his own games.

There were also reports ahead of the 2021-22 season that Kane's own teammates didn't want him on the Sharks anymore. While no players officially confirmed those reports, the Sharks also appeared to keep Kane away from the rest of the team while he was still in San Jose.

No NHL teams have officially come forward to say they are interested in adding Kane, although whoever decides to sign him will likely get an earful given the non-hockey baggage that comes with adding the veteran forward to their rosters.