NHL Pacific

San Jose Barracuda forward Krystof Hrabik has been suspended 30 games after making a racist gesture toward Tucson Roadrunners forward Boko Imama, who is Black, during a Jan. 12 game, the AHL announced Friday. 

According to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski, Hrabik imitated the movement of a monkey in a taunt toward Imama. Players on the Roadrunners bench noticed the gesture, and he was eventually confronted by Tucson's Travis Barron. 

The AHL was made aware of the incident on Jan. 13 and began investigating. At that point, Hrabik was barred from all team activities. He has already served three games of his 30-game suspension. 

AHL President and CEO Scott Howson released the following statement:

The AHL stands with Boko Imama. It is unfair that any player should be subjected to comments or gestures based on their race; they should be judged only on their ability to perform as a player on the ice, as a teammate in the locker room and as a member of their community.

Hrabik released a statement on Friday evening. He said he would not be appealing the suspension and that he is "embarrassed" by his actions. 

Imama also released a statement, saying the situation is "frustrating and disheartening" and hopes people learn from it. 

As part of his suspension, Hrabik is being given the opportunity to work with the NHL's Player Inclusion Committee to participate in education and training on racism and inclusion. He will be allowed to apply for reinstatement to the AHL after missing 21 games. The league's decision will be "based on an evaluation of his progress in the necessary education and training" with the Player Inclusion Committee.

The Barracuda and the San Jose Sharks, the team's NHL affiliate, also released a joint statement Friday:

This marks the second time a player has been suspended for making a racist gesture toward Imama. Former Bakersfield Condors defenseman Brandon Manning was suspended five games in 2020 after using a racial slur toward Imama. 

Imama was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2015. He spent four years with the Los Angeles Kings from 2017-21 before signing with the Roadrunners last summer. 

Evander Kane has not played an NHL game this season, but he reportedly could be returning to the ice for a new team pending the outcome of a league investigation.

Darren Dreger of TSN reported there remains "a decent chance" the left-winger will sign with the Edmonton Oilers if he avoids a significant suspension. He also said the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning "remain in the mix," although things could change if the NHL gives him a lengthy penalty.

In November ESPN's Greg Wyshynski wrote about Kane's 2021, including his 21-game suspension for violating the NHL's COVID-19 protocols because he submitted a fake vaccination card.

What's more, the league investigated after his estranged wife, Anna Kane, made allegations of domestic violence and that he bet on NHL games. The NHL said the allegations of assault "could not be substantiated" and determined there was no evidence he bet on hockey games.

The Sharks placed Kane on waivers, which he cleared, and then reassigned him to their AHL affiliate, the Barracuda.

San Jose then announced on Jan. 8 it placed him on unconditional waivers and would terminate his contract, citing a "breach of his NHL Standard Player Contract and for violation of the AHL COVID-19 protocols."

The NHL's ongoing investigation into Kane is related to this breach of protocols. Per Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the league is looking into a border crossing made by Kane from the U.S. into Canada in December.

Still, ESPN's Kevin Weekes reported "most" teams that are realistically in contention for the Stanley Cup gauged interest from Kane's camp. 

Pierre LeBrun of TSN said the left-winger's agent, Dan Milstein, said the plan is to sign a one-year deal for the rest of the 2021-22 campaign.

Kane played for the Atlanta Thrashers, Buffalo Sabres and Sharks from the 2009-10 season. He appeared in 56 games for San Jose in 2020-21 and finished with 49 points on 22 goals and 27 assists.

The Oilers are 18-15-2 on the season for 38 points, which is good enough for seventh place in the Pacific Division.            

It's been a wild week in the NHL with the Evander Kane situation changing seemingly by the hour. Let's review.

- The San Jose Sharks announced on Jan. 8 that they had placed the 30-year-old winger on unconditional waivers for his second violation of COVID-19 protocols this season as a member of the club's AHL affiliate, the Barracuda. His contract was officially terminated on Jan. 9. Kane was originally suspended in October for reportedly using a fake vaccine card.

- The NHLPA immediately stated its intention that it would file a grievance on Kane's behalf, challenging the Sharks' decision to terminate Kane's contract.

- According to Sportnet's Elliotte Friedman on Jan. 11, the Edmonton Oilers were in serious contention to sign Kane as an unrestricted free agent.

- When asked directly about signing Kane, Oilers general manager Ken Holland said, "I believe in second chances." Oilers captain Connor McDavid was also open to having him join in Edmonton.

- On Jan. 12, Friedman reported that Kane was under league investigation for the process of crossing the U.S.-Canadian border in December. The investigation would likely delay any team from signing Kane in the near term.

So where does this leave Kane and Sharks? How did we get into this situation in the first place? And what will happen next? 

Let's take a closer look at the entire situation.

Why was a former 30-goal scorer in the prime of his career playing in the AHL in the first place?

After being suspended in October for reportedly having a fake vaccine card, Kane was playing in the AHL for the first time in his career as the Sharks sought a trade partner that never materialized. Kane had worn out his welcome in the Sharks locker room, with several teammates saying they didn't want him back for the 2021-22 campaign.

Trading him also would have required them to retain much of his $7 million yearly salary, since Kane is in the fourth year of a seven-year, $49 million contract. His time in the AHL wasn't without controversy either, as the club questioned his commitment to the Barracuda after he missed practices with what he called a sore shoulder and food poisoning, according to The Athletic. 

What caused the Sharks to release Kane?

The Sharks said they terminated Kane's contract "for breach of his NHL standard player contract and for violation of the AHL COVID-19 protocols. It's important to note that the club probably could not have terminated his contract had the league not agreed that there was a breach of contract terms. 

The NHLPA did not see the situation the same way, but that was to be expected. 

Just a few months after being named the Sharks' player of the year, the team decided it was better off without the distraction, even if that meant losing his prolific offensive production. 

Has Kane been involved in other troubling incidents?

Kane has long had a history of on- and off-ice issues that range from clashes with his own teammates to conflicts with officials to arrests. 

The fourth overall pick in the 2009 draft by the Atlanta Thrashers, Kane was sued for assault damages in 2014 as a member of the Winnipeg Jets. He was scratched after an incident with his teammates. He publicly stated that he felt the team didn't have his back and traded away its problem.

In July 2016 as a member of the Buffalo Sabres, he was sued by a 21-year-old woman who claimed he invited her to a party in the Buffalo hotel room where he was living and attacked her. Later that month he was arrested after allegedly harassing three women at a Buffalo bar. He was later cleared of all charges.

Kane has also missed practices—once to go to the NBA All-Star Game in Toronto—he was scratched for violating the Jets' dress code, he's been late to practices, and teammates and coaches have found him to be unaccountable. Former Sabres general manager Tim Murray said Kane's involvement in highly publicized incidents like bar fights brought negative attention to the organization. 

Last year, his estranged wife, Anna Kane, posted a series of Instagram stories accusing her husband of domestic abuse, gambling on NHL games and even throwing games. While Kane does have a history of gambling, as is evidenced by his bankruptcy that stemmed from gambling debts, the league cleared him of any wrongdoing, and he and his wife dropped their domestic violence restraining orders against one another

Who is interested in signing Kane?

Frank Seravalli of DailyFaceoff.com reported on Jan. 12 that as many as 16 teams have shown interest in Kane. The Oilers appeared to be the most interested in him. However, there is a chance that Kane probably would not be able to help a team in need of him for a playoff push.

Kane and his agent, Dan Milstein, were interviewing with teams before deputy commissioner Bill Daly sent out a memo saying the league was opening an investigation into his cross-border travel. 

The Canadian government does not allow people to board a "public flight" within 15 days of receiving a positive COVID-19 test. Failure to comply with the Canadian federal Quarantine Act could result in "fines, imprisonment or both." Kane allegedly tested positive on Dec. 21 and traveled on Dec. 29.

Aside from the legal ramifications, Kane could be subjected to disciplinary action by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, which could mean that any team that signs him wouldn't be able to use him right away. Kane was already suspended for 21 games for the first COVID-19 infraction, so if he's suspended again it could be in the range of 30-40 games, which would bring him right about to the start of the postseason. 

Why do so many teams seem willing to sign Kane?

Kane is capable of scoring 20-30 goals per season, and scorers like that will always be coveted. There is no question Kane is a talented winger who could boost the offensive production of any lineup. 

Financially, it's a low-risk move since a team could negotiate a short-term contract. 

Should a team still sign him? 

McDavid seemed somewhat noncommittal when asked about the situation Wednesday night. 

"I'm not really here to discuss optic issues," he said. "If fans don't like it or the media doesn't like it, I think, whatever. It is what it is. There are a lot of things that go on on the ice that fans don't like and we don't necessarily have to discuss those up here with you guys.

"The public opinion is something that matters a lot, but we're here to try and win games and put a good team on the ice."

McDavid and his teammate, Leon Draisaitl, badly need help. The team has shown a remarkable inability to produce offense without those two on the ice, and goaltenders Mike Smith and Mikko Koskinen have struggled. The roster has had several COVID-19-related absences and the team is right up against the cap, so Kane would be a way to bring in offense for cheap. 

If the captain says it's not a big deal, then the rest of the locker room will have to take the same approach, at least publicly. But privately, it's a different story. 

There will always be players who place a high value on team chemistry and accountability. There will always be young, impressionable players on their entry-level contracts because this is a salary-cap league. Can the Oilers afford to keep Kane around emerging young defenseman Evan Bouchard? Can any team afford to have a player known for being late or skipping practices around its top prospects? 

It's possible that Kane is, in fact, a better teammate than we are seeing on Twitter. Along with Akim Aliu, Kane was a co-founder of the Hockey Diversity Alliance. However, he took a "voluntary leave" from the organization in August after Anna Kane's allegations became public. 

But one could also argue that continually putting organizations in positions to defend his actions and leaving teams short-handed because of things like suspensions makes him a poor teammate. 

There are some executives who have decided against signing Kane, even at a fraction of the cost. But if a team is that desperate for offensive production and it feels as though it has the structure and leadership to keep him on track, or that a playoff run would motivate him, then it may think otherwise. 

It all depends on the outcome of the league's investigation and then what an independent arbitrator decides regarding his contract with the Sharks. For now, everything is on hold, which adds yet another layer to an already complicated situation. 

Los Angeles Kings athletic trainer Aisha Visram will become the first woman to work an NHL regular-season game behind the bench in Thursday's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Visram is currently the head athletic trainer of the Ontario Reign, the Kings' AHL affiliate, and is filling in as a trainer for the Kings.

She joined the Reign last February after previously working with the ECHL’s Adirondack Thunder. During her time with the Thunder, she served as the ECHL’s Eastern Conference representative on the ECHL Athletic Trainers Advisory Committee.

Women have taken on an increasingly large role across the NHL, with Dawn Braid becoming the first female full-time coach in league history in 2016 when she joined the Arizona Coyotes as a skating coach. 

Former San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane has reportedly been contacted by "most" Stanley Cup contenders after being released earlier this week, per ESPN's Kevin Weekes. 

Weekes adds that teams are "doing their due diligence" by speaking with players who have played with Kane in addition to his agent.

The Sharks terminated Kane's contract on Sunday, citing a breach of his contract for violating the American Hockey League's COVID-19 protocols. He was sent to the team's AHL affiliate after serving a 21-game suspension for submitting a fake COVID-19 vaccination card. 

In addition to violating COVID-19 protocols, Kane was investigated for domestic assault after allegations made by his estranged wife, Anna Kane. The NHL later announced that her allegations "could not be substantiated."

Anna Kane also accused the Sharks forward of betting on his own NHL games. The league investigated and found no evidence that he did so. 

According to ESPN's Emily Kaplan, the Sharks had been trying to trade Kane over the last several months and that several teams expressed interest in acquiring the veteran. San Jose was even willing to retain some of his $7 million salary, but nothing came to fruition. 

Now that his client is on the market, Kane's agent, Dan Milstein, recently told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun that he will sign a one-year deal for the remainder of the 2021-22 season. TSN's Gord Miller added Kane could have a new contract by the end of this week. 

The Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning and Vegas Golden Knights have been linked to the 30-year-old. According to CapFriendly, the Golden Knights have the most cap space of any of the teams mentioned at almost $5 million. However, they have that space because of players on long-term injured reserve. 

Kane, who was drafted fourth overall in 2009, still has plenty of gas left in the tank and would be a solid addition for any Stanley Cup contender. The Vancouver native tallied 22 goals and 27 assists in 56 games last season. 

The 6'2", 210-pound Kane has tallied at least 20 goals in seven of his 12 NHL seasons (and scored 19 goals twice) and has recorded more than 50 points in two times. His best season came during the 2011-12 campaign when he tallied a career-high 30 goals and 27 assists in 74 games for the Winnipeg Jets. 

Kane has also been serviceable in the postseason, tallying six goals and seven assists in 29 playoff games. 

The left wing has tallied 264 goals and 242 assists in 769 career games.  

Nadia Popovici, the Seattle Kraken fan who alerted Vancouver Canucks assistant equipment manager Brian Hamilton from behind the bench to visit a doctor for a possible cancerous mole on his neck, was awarded $10,000 toward her medical school training from both teams on Saturday for her heroic actions. 

During the Kraken's inaugural home game at Climate Pledge Arena on Oct. 23, Popovici began banging on the glass to get Hamilton's attention. When he finally looked at her, she flashed a message on her cellphone telling him he had a possibly cancerous growth on his neck. 

Hamilton then went to Canucks team doctor Jim Bovard, who took a biopsy of the mole, which revealed a malignant melanoma. The melanoma hadn't penetrated far into Hamilton's skin, but things could've taken a turn for the worse had it gone unnoticed for another couple of years. 

Hamilton credits Popovici, who is going into medical school next fall, for saving his life.  

The Seattle Kraken fan who alerted Vancouver Canucks assistant equipment manager Brian "Red" Hamilton of a malignant melanoma on his neck has been found.

Hamilton released a statement through the Canucks explaining how a fan attending the Oct. 23 game in Seattle got his attention and wrote a message expressing concern that he may have a malignant melanoma.

The fan's instincts were accurate, and the melanoma is now gone.

Within hours, the fan, who is a member of the "Ladies of the Kraken" Facebook group, was found:

The interaction occurred during the expansion team's home debut.

Hamilton spoke with the media after the fan was identified: 

"She extended my life, she saved my life," Hamilton said Saturday, per ESPN's Kristen Shilton.

She didn't take me out of a burning car like [in] the big stories but she took me out of a slow fire. The words out of the doctor's mouth were if I ignored that for four to five years, I wouldn't be here. I didn't [even] know [the mole] was there. She pointed it out. How she saw it boggles my mind. It wasn't very big. I wear a jacket [on the bench], I wear a radio on the back of my jacket that hooks on, so the cords are there. Like, she's a hero.

The woman, identified as Nadia, is an aspiring doctor who was recently accepted into multiple medical schools, per Shilton.

She had just spent the night working at a suicide hotline and had plans to attend the Canucks at Kraken game Saturday.

A member of the Facebook group, Yukyung Nelson, made the connection:

Oh my gosh!!! This was my daughter!!! She just got accepted into multiple medical schools. We have season tickets behind the opposing team and she noticed the mole on the back of his neck so she typed a message into her phone and knocked on the glass window to get his attention. She finally got his attention and he looked quickly and then nodded. We didn't think anymore of it. This is absolutely amazing!

The Canucks are back in Seattle to take on the Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena on Saturday at 10 p.m. ET. The 47-year-old Hamilton, who has worked over 1,000 games for the Canucks over the past two decades, will be back behind the bench.

The Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche and Florida Panthers have been shut down through the NHL's holiday break because of COVID-19 outbreaks within each club, the league announced Friday.

Calgary has already missed matchups with the Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators and Toronto Maple Leafs. It will also miss games against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Anaheim Ducks and Seattle Kraken.

Colorado's postponements are for games against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins, while Florida will miss contests against the Minnesota Wild, Blackhawks and Predators. 

The Flames have 19 players and 13 club employees in COVID-19 protocols. Five Avalanche players are in protocols, and the Panthers have seven, per ESPN's Kristen Shilton. 

Other NHL franchises are also experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks, including the Boston Bruins, whose matchup against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday was postponed. 

The NHL has mandated enhanced health and safety protocols amid the outbreaks across the league, including increased mask-wearing, virtual meetings and daily testing. 

ESPN's Emily Kaplan noted that the more games are postponed, the less likely NHL players will participate in the Winter Olympics. The league may need that time for makeup games.

NHL Players' Association Executive Director Don Fehr said last week that players are uncertain about participating in the Beijing Olympics because they haven't received definitive answers about COVID-19 protocols for the Games, per ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. 

It's unclear if the NHL is considering a leaguewide shutdown given the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases. 

The NHL has further delayed the Calgary Flames' return to play after 17 additional members of the organization entered the league's COVID Protocol, including seven players, and postponed Saturday's scheduled matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets.  

The Flames last played on Saturday, losing to the Bruins 4-2. 

The NHL, much like the NFL and NBA at the moment, is seeing a rise in cases. The Carolina Hurricanes, Vancouver Canucks, Detroit Red Wings and Nashville Predators all have multiple players and/or staffers in the league's COVID-19 protocol.

The NHL postponed Tuesday's scheduled matchup between the Hurricanes and Minnesota Wild after Carolina's spike in positive tests. 

Head coach Darryl Sutter is among those in the protocol for the Flames, the team announced, while the players added on Wednesday include Rasmus Andersson, Byron Froese, Johnny Gaudreau, Erik Gudbranson, Trevor Lewis, Jacob Markstrom and Tyler Pitlick. 

Calgary has now had four games postponed. 

Per ESPN, 130 NHL players have been placed in the COVID protocol this season. 

In the NBA, meanwhile, rising cases led to the league postponing two Chicago Bulls games this week, with 10 of the team's players in the health and safety protocols. And the Brooklyn Nets currently have seven players in the protocols.

"Like the rest of the country, and as was predicted by our infectious disease specialists, we have seen an increase of cases around the league," NBA spokesman Mike Bass told reporters this week. "As we have since the pandemic began in March 2020, we will continue to follow the science and data, and will, in close partnership with the players' association, update our protocols as deemed appropriate by our medical experts."