Sharks failed to trade Evander Kane before gambling scandal!

This started before San Jose Sharks’ Evander Kane’s estranged wife claimed that he bet on his own games and has intentionally tried to lose for gambling profit. 

According to Sharks insider Kevin Kurz for The Athletic, Kane’s  teammates would prefer he didn’t play for the club in 2021-22 and team management has already tried to trade him. 

We can imagine now that the Sharks will have a hard time moving Kane with the NHL investigating the claims from his wife Anne Kane. And so, the Sharks wanted him out before the allegations: they reportedly tried to trade Kane earlier this offseason, and his uneasy relationship with a number of his teammates was a major reason why. 

Kane’s trade is now down the drains with Anna Kane talking about his potentially illegal gambling issues and made other accusations that her soon-to-be ex-husband was spending lavishly partying in Europe while asking her to sell her wedding ring to survive and wrote about not being able to afford baby formula for their child.

This prompted Evander Kane to claim that the couple was in the process of getting a divorce and called Anna Kane “mentally unwell.’’

However, this new twist is unlikely to surprised fans across the NHL: Kane’s gambling history and finances have been public knowledge for some time. He filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in January, listing debts of $26.8 million and assets of $10.2 million. According to the Chapter 7 petition, he lost $1.5 million gambling in the 12 months prior. He admitted to suffering from gambling issues. 

Kane is under contract with the Sharks through 2024-25. The seven-year deal he inked with San Jose in 2018 carries a $7-million cap hit.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Hockey Diversity Alliance announced that Kane is on voluntary leave from his position as board member while the allegations made against him are investigated.