Oilers Evander Kane fined $2500 for unsportsmanlike conduct versus the Columbus Blue Jackets

Was anyone else confused about this news? Did anyone else wonder what the hell Evander Kane did to merit a $2500 fine for unsportsmanlike conduct? From where I blog, I was pretty confused about what he did to earn this fine because I don’t remember anything happening that was too egregious. I mean, the guy didn’t even get a penalty of any kind against the Blue Jackets.

So what exactly did Kane do? Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin had the scoop, “Some questions on what Evander Kane’s fine was for: I’m told the incident occurred in the second period of the Oilers’ 4-2 road loss to the Blue Jackets Thursday during a bench altercation in which Kane jabbed his stick into the Blue Jackets’ bench, a source tells Daily Faceoff.”

I don’t remember Kane poking anyone in the CBJ bench with his stick personally, but if he did, and it seems like that’s the case, then that’s probably worthy of a fine. Kane, 32, has been a polarizing figure in Edmonton this season after inconsistencies have had him moving up and down the lineup.

After Kane cashed in 38 goals in 84 regular-season games across his first two seasons as an Oiler, punctuated by 16 goals in 27 playoff games over two runs, the winger has amassed 21 goals in 60 games so far in 2023-24. That puts him at a 0.35 goals per game pace, which represents his lowest mark since he was a Buffalo Sabre in 2015-16.

Kane is no stranger to hearing from the NHL DoPS. This fine marks the fourth of his NHL career. He’s also been suspended by the NHL Department of Player Safety seven times over the course of his 15 seasons. In case you were wondering, the $2500 fine that Kane has to pay goes to the NHL Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

EVANDER KANE’S SEASON SO FAR