The NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced that Edmonton Oilers forward Evander Kane has been suspended one game for his hit on Colorado Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri early in the first period on Saturday night. The hit happened as Kadri and Kane skated towards the end boards to battle for a loose puck, Kane giving Kadri a shove several feet before the boards, causing Kadri to lose his balance and hit the boards awkwardly. Kadri would stay down on the ice for several minutes before being helped off. The Avalanche forward did not return and according to Head Coach Jared Bednar, has been ruled out for the remainder of the series, and perhaps longer.
In rationalizing the suspension, the Department of Player Safety said the following:
“It is important to note that this is not a scenario in which Kadri puts himself in a vulnerable position immediately prior to the hit in a way that turns a legal check into an illegal one. While we acknowledge that Kadri positions himself in front of Kane in order to shield the puck, this action is not a sudden or sharp movement that changes the nature of Kane’s hit in a way that he cannot control. And while we acknowledge Kane’s argument that Kadri loses his footing as he approaches the boards, we believe that this is a direct result of the shove and is not an unavoidable occurrence that causes an unfortunate accident. This shove is deliberate at a dangerous distance from the boards while the two players are traveling at speed and causes an injury.”
Kane has been suspended several times in the past, including two separate three games suspensions, once for elbowing and once for abuse of on-ice officials. Losing Kane, even for just one game, is a difficult blow for Edmonton, as the winger had one of the best seasons of his career to date in 2021-22 after being released by the San Jose Sharks and later signing with Edmonton in late January. Kane had 22 goals and 16 assists in 43 regular season games followed up by 17 points, including a playoff-leading 13 goals, in 15 postseason games for Edmonton thus far.
Too soft
I wish you could ban somebody for life for being the biggest douchebag in Hockey!!!! He has had that title the last 10 years!!!!
Tom Wilson
Incredibly weak. Kadri is out at least for the rest of the series and Kane should be too. Of course if Colorado wins game 4 it’s moot but if Edmonton wins game 4 I hope no one acts surprised if Kane tries to injure someone else. Honestly Kane should be evaluated for CTE before he returns to the ice.
Tht requires an autopsy. Not against it, just saying.
Kane should have been suspended for two games minimum. A weak and inept decision.
NHL officiating stinks. Today’s Bolts-Rangers affair continued the tradition. K’Andre Miller depth-charged Brandon Hagel in the most obvious case of interference possible with no official response.
1? lol – time to eliminate DoPS. Useless.
The Kyle Clifford hit was not as bad and did not result in serious injury. He received a match penalty for it. He had no previous suspensions in his ~750 game NHL career. He got one playoff game (effectively two, considering he also got the match penalty). The Evander Kane hit was more dangerous and resulted in significant injury to a star player. He did not receive a match penalty. He had several previous suspensions in his ~800 game NHL career. He got one playoff game. Sometimes, I hate being a hockey fan.
NHL should of gave him 2 because if oilers win game 4 then call on MacDermid to be in game 5…
i think the avs up MacDermid for tonight’s game. Not only sweep em but hit soemeone so hard his mother cries. I think the translation of a 1 game suspension meant they disregarded Kanee’s frustration penalties in game 2, the cross check, the elbow to the face, and they decided it did not trickle down to game 3. sure it didn’t.
The slew foot was as dangerous and affected a more prominent player and should have also been reviewed… but NHL gonna NHL.
i still think mac should have dropped a peoples elbow on leon when he flopped like a fish to the ice