San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane was suspended three games on Saturday for an elbow of Winnipeg Jets defenseman Neal Pionk.
But it was what happened after the suspension was announced that has everyone talking.
Video
Around 4 PM EST, the league sent out the release.
San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane has been suspended for three games, without pay, for elbowing Winnipeg Jets defenseman Neal Pionk during NHL Game No. 893 in Winnipeg on Friday, Feb. 14, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today.
The incident occurred at 13:02 of the third period. Kane was assessed a minor penalty for elbowing in December 2019.
Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, Kane will forfeit $112,903.23. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
In the DoPS video, Kane’s supplemental discipline history is brought up as a factor — he’s been suspended three times before — as well being only fined for an elbow
Minutes later, Kane published the following statement on his personal Twitter account.
“The fact the NHL Department of Player Safety headed by George Parros continue to pick and choose, who and what they suspend is ridiculous!” Kane wrote. “There have been countless incidents of the same nature through this season and past seasons that have gone unsuspended or fined. No one person can tell you what is or isn’t a suspension in today’s game, it’s become a complete guess. There is a major lack of consistency with NHL Department of Player Safety. A completely FLAWED system in so many ways. From the suspensions to appeal rights, it’s baffling to me how we as a players (union) agreed to this. You can’t continue to give some players a pass and throw the book at others. There has to be a outside third party making these decisions to remove the bias that transpires in this department headed by George Parros. None of it makes any sense.”
MY STATEMENT: pic.twitter.com/taoALpVmvn
— Evander Kane (@evanderkane_9) February 15, 2020
Kane proceeded to show examples of DoPS’ inconsistency.
But this doesn’t get anything?? Tell me what this difference is please! https://t.co/MSw50eIENa
— Evander Kane (@evanderkane_9) February 15, 2020
But I thought this was a 1 game playoff suspension??? No? https://t.co/v6NCUqquGI
— Evander Kane (@evanderkane_9) February 15, 2020
He’s not wrong.
Heartbreaking: The Worst Person You Know Just Made A Great Point https://t.co/DvYy7CgCET via @@ClickHole
— Peter Hassett 🌮 (@peterhassett) February 15, 2020
