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Vancouver Sun
10-07-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Evander Kane one-on-one: On his last days an Oiler, race in hockey and why he chose the Canucks
It wasn't long after the Edmonton Oilers lost the Stanley Cup Final for the second year in a row that Evander Kane found out he'd be moving on. On a salary cap-strapped team that needed to re-sign Evan Bouchard, and still needs to lock up Connor McDavid long-term, Kane's $5.1 million-a-year deal became too much too bear. But, the power forward's contract had a 16-team no trade list. Kane said he, his agent and the Oilers worked together to find the best landing spot for him. And that final destination was his home city of Vancouver, where he'll play close to old friends and family. The Oilers got a fourth-round pick in exchange, which they used to select Saskatoon Blades forward David Lewandowski. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'I would have loved to have stayed and finish my career here in Edmonton,' said Kane, a father of four. 'Me and my family, we have a lot of great memories here, on and off the ice. Obviously, I understand hockey is first and foremost a business and that people have to make business decisions, especially when there are salary-cap issues with teams. When you go to the finals back-to-back years, you probably have a pretty good team, and you have players making a lot of money. I think you saw that this summer with a ton of turnover. It's going to be happening for others next year, with a lot of guys moving on. 'For me personally, my agent made me aware of where Edmonton was, and obviously, I had some control in terms of where I went. And the Oilers did a nice job of working with me to get me to a place that made some sense for me and my family instead of just trading me to the highest bidder. I was appreciative.' Before the interview, Kane's agency made it clear that he wanted to clear the air over the Game 6 post-game controversy that erupted after he didn't join his Oilers' teammates for the customary post-series handshakes with the Florida Panthers. Kane received a misconduct penalty with just a little more than two minutes left in the third period of that 5-1 loss, and didn't re-emerge after the final horn sounded at the Amerant Bank Arena. It led to a firestorm of criticism and became a social media cause celebre. Kane said he doesn't understand why so many pundits don't see it for simply what it was, a player who was thrown out of a game and thought the best course of action was not to come back to the ice after 60 minutes. 'It's baffling to me, how anybody saw that in any other way than somebody getting kicked out of a game,' said Kane. 'I mean, I've been kicked out of games in the past. Other players have been kicked out of games of the past. I've never seen anybody come out and shake hands if they were kicked out of the game in an elimination game of the postseason. So, I didn't. Then I saw some criticism around it for me, I felt like they were just looking for something to talk about. 'Even if you look at, like, some of the chat about how I had been playing with a couple of minutes left to go. The season's over. I mean, who cares? You look at some of the media pundits, they talk about how you gotta go down swinging, and then once you go down swinging, it's all about discipline, has he lost his mind. I find it ridiculous. You know, these are people that have never been in real intense competition ever in their lives — a lot of them, at least. I find it funny to listen to to it sometimes.' Of course, it brought up the question: did Kane think the colour of his skin had a lot to do with how his actions, or lack of action, were perceived? More pointedly, would the criticism have been as strong had he been a white farm kid from Saskatchewan? The NHL is fully aware that it has a race issue. It's no accident that the league hired civil-rights leader Kim Davis to become its vice-president in charge of making the league more diverse and inclusive. It's the reason every team now makes league-mandated in-arena announcements that prejudicial behaviour won't be tolerated. Now that the does-hockey-have-a-race-problem debate is pretty well over, we are in the uncomfortable phase where we're finding out just how hard it is to change the status quo; from the NHL to Hockey Canada to USA Hockey, actions have been taken to try and address a problem they know exists in the game — that the whiteness of hockey is a big reason it is No. 4 when it comes to the so-called 'Big Four' of pro sports. In the case of Evander Kane, his critics will point to a laundry list of transgressions, both real and perceived. Kane was accused of domestic abuse by his ex-wife, but the courts sided with him, granting him parental custody of their daughter. A restraining order was placed against his ex-wife. He has since remarried. His contract was terminated by the San Jose Sharks before he signed with the Oilers in 2022. Kane fought it, and he and the Sharks later settled on a compensation package. In 2021, Kane filed for bankruptcy in California and showed $1.5 million in gambling debts. The NHL investigated to see if there was proof that Kane had bet on NHL games, and later cleared the player. The only charge that has stuck to Kane was a 21-game suspension for violating the NHL's COVID-19 policies. Kane had a self-admitted gambling issue and sought help for it. Do you recall another NHLer who had a severe issue with gambling? In 2003, Jaromir Jagr accrued $450,000 in gambling debts and owed around $3 million in back taxes to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. Did that stigma stick with Jagr? Absolutely not. So, while Kane has won in the courts of law, he hasn't been as successful in the court of public opinion. And he said his willingness to be candid and the colour of his skin make for a mix that so-called hockey traditionalists don't like. Kane has a clothing brand, Defy, and his love of fashion is plain for all to see in his pre-game walks into the arena. He is the self-proclaimed best-dressed player in the NHL, and he said the new CBA's lack of dress code isn't going to change his ways. He's also launched a wine line, Dovetail, and hosted a posh launch for it at Edmonton's Fairmont Hotel Macdonald in August of 2024. But put together Blackness and flamboyance, and he feels it's an anathema to the hockey establishment. 'Media are always looking for something to talk about and, on both sides of the equation, they love pointing out certain things when it comes to me,' said Kane. 'Yeah, like they ask for and they love candidness, but it's only from particular people, at least it seems that way. They like emotion from certain players, and they call it emotion with certain players. And when another player shows that same kind of emotion, they call it something else. They call it a lack of maturity. They call it, 'Losing his mind. Losing control.' It's whatever they want, whatever terms they want to use — character flaw, whatever it may be. They throw these terms out very loosely. The same actions, they could have two different adjectives to describe two different players.' Kane's sentiments are backed up by Irfan Chaudhry, the MacEwan University expert on race and inclusion, who was hired by Hockey Canada in 2023 to help the organization with its diversity efforts. During the COVID lockdowns, he hosted the virtual Grow the Game summit. As part of his work, Chaudhry highlighted the 'leniency effect.' Second chances and forgiveness are noble aims, but they tend to be granted to white athletes with greater frequency than to players of colour. For example, Dany Heatley's dangerous driving killed a teammate, and he was welcomed back to the NHL. During his session, Chaudhry showed pictures of Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby, and asked the audience what adjectives came to mind. He then showed pictures of Kane and P.K. Subban and asked the same question. Chaudhry said that Black athletes are often portrayed in the media for their physical prowess, while white athletes are praised for their brains and determination. Think about it the next time you watch an NFL game. How do the commentators describe a Black quarterback vs. a white one? How many white quarterbacks are recycled and given second, third and fourth chances? 'That would be like Tom Brady, right?' said Kane. 'Yeah. What people say is 'what a warrior' and that he 'just wants the best of a great teammate.' But if a Black player was like that, he would selfish, he's trying to make it about himself. Absolutely. It's even higher in hockey because there's so few Black players. 'In hockey, they ask, does he bring physicality? I mean, I have over 300 goals in the National Hockey League. How many players in the league's history have that? Not many. Not as many as you might think. How many players have played in the league? Like, you know, I averaged almost 30 goals a year over my entire career. And the way media talks about certain players it's like they're always trying to under-represent and undersell certain players. And then I see comparisons, I see them talk about other players, and boy, is it an oversell and a half, and I'm thinking, why is that? And truly, why is that? You know, it's not a one off, it's not one year, I've been in the league for 16 NHL seasons, and I've seen a lot of different things. There's been a lot of examples of this type of coverage in media, in the game of hockey. It's not all, and I want to make that very clear. It's not all. But it's more than one or two. 'When a player looks a little different, they don't know how to handle it. They feel uncomfortable.' During the 2023-24 season, Kane caused a furor with the Hockey Night in Canada panel when, during an intermission interview, he noted that 'he didn't play much in the first period.' As if any players want reduced ice time — yet somehow an all-white panel came to the conclusion that it was an issue of character. It was ESPN's Kevin Weekes, a Black former NHL goalie, who finally pointed out, 'When a player wants more, I don't have a problem with that.' Kane missed all of the regular season with injuries, and simply smiled and said 'that's a very interesting question' when asked if he was healthy enough to return before the playoffs. He returned for the Oilers' second game of the postseason. And, like many of his Oilers teammates, had to endure two heartbreaking finals losses to the Florida Panthers. 'It's difficult,' he said. 'You look at the first year, obviously, I couldn't finish the series. I was hurt, you know, pretty much the entire regular season and really hurt in the playoffs. But to lose in seven games and not get it … I mean, any time you go down three games to none, you really put yourself behind the eight ball and we were able to come back and give ourselves one game to win a Stanley Cup. This year, we have home ice, we win Game 1 and it was big, going into overtime, winning in overtime.' Then Brad Marchand scored the overtime winner in Game 2, and the series changed. Kane's dad, Perry, and Marchand's dad, Kevin, played together on the junior Dartmouth Arrows team in Nova Scotia, but Kane said he only found out about it when asked about it during the Cup final. There was no deep relationship between the families. 'The next game, it could have went either way as well,' said Kane. 'You know, we jump out to a bit of a lead and it's just one of those things that, if you get up two to nothing, maybe the series changes a little bit. I think really where the series turned was Game 5; we didn't play the type of Game 5 we needed to play. Coming back, tied 2-2, we could have ensured at least we have a Game 7 on home ice. I didn't think we had our best game, but in a big way. And then, Game 6 it just seemed that when they got opportunities, they scored. And then their goalie made a big save. 'I think the whole series, both Cup finals, you know, their goaltender (Sergei Bobrovsky) stole some games for them. He was elite, and you look at their team, they've got big, mobile defencemen, great goaltending and they've got a deep forward lineup with some top-end talent. You could have said the same thing about our team was as well, or be very close to that. That's why we were in the Cup final back-to-back years. So the margins in both series were so small. And I think the second time both teams were better. It was tough to lose, but we were right there.' Kane is thrilled his family will be able to attend all of his home games. His dad is still active in hockey, and runs Spot On Hockey, which works to give instruction and encouragement to players of colour. He's brought that program to Edmonton, as well. 'He donates ice and instructors and gives kids, basically, a free opportunity to learn the game of hockey and work on their skills and get better,' said Kane. 'And there's nobody more passionate about minorities and getting them involved in a game that he loves.' And will his dad see a lot of home wins? Kane believes this Canucks team is close to getting back to where it was two seasons ago, when it won the Pacific Division and was ousted in the second round of the playoffs by the Oilers after a wild, physical seven-game series. 'We played Vancouver in the second round in the first year we went to the Cup final,' said Kane. 'And we had to take them to Game 7, and we squeaked it out. Vancouver, only two years ago, they could have been in the final. They were probably the toughest series, believe it or not, that whole playoff, including Florida. I mean, we got down three in Florida, but then we won three straight, right? Yeah. Canucks were probably our toughest series over that whole year. If you look back at that, obviously they had a bit of an off year last year, I think that it's more than realistic to be back in the playoffs and be contending. Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don't miss the news you need to know — add and to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters . You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post, and 13 other Canadian news sites. The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun
Edmonton Journal
10-07-2025
- Business
- Edmonton Journal
Evander Kane one-on-one: On his last days an Oiler, race in hockey and why he chose the Canucks
It wasn't long after the Edmonton Oilers lost the Stanley Cup Final for the second year in a row that Evander Kane found out he'd be moving on. Article content On a salary cap-strapped team that needed to re-sign Evan Bouchard, and still needs to lock up Connor McDavid long-term, Kane's $5.1 million-a-year deal became too much too bear. But, the power forward's contract had a 16-team no trade list. Article content Article content Article content Kane said he, his agent and the Oilers worked together to find the best landing spot for him. And that final destination was his home city of Vancouver, where he'll play close to old friends and family. The Oilers got a fourth-round pick in exchange, which they used to select Saskatoon Blades forward David Lewandowski. Article content 'I would have loved to have stayed and finish my career here in Edmonton,' said Kane, a father of four. 'Me and my family, we have a lot of great memories here, on and off the ice. Obviously, I understand hockey is first and foremost a business and that people have to make business decisions, especially when there are salary-cap issues with teams. When you go to the finals back-to-back years, you probably have a pretty good team, and you have players making a lot of money. I think you saw that this summer with a ton of turnover. It's going to be happening for others next year, with a lot of guys moving on. Article content Article content 'For me personally, my agent made me aware of where Edmonton was, and obviously, I had some control in terms of where I went. And the Oilers did a nice job of working with me to get me to a place that made some sense for me and my family instead of just trading me to the highest bidder. I was appreciative.' Article content Article content Before the interview, Kane's agency made it clear that he wanted to clear the air over the Game 6 post-game controversy that erupted after he didn't join his Oilers' teammates for the customary post-series handshakes with the Florida Panthers. Kane received a misconduct penalty with just a little more than two minutes left in the third period of that 5-1 loss, and didn't re-emerge after the final horn sounded at the Amerant Bank Arena. It led to a firestorm of criticism and became a social media cause celebre. Article content Kane said he doesn't understand why so many pundits don't see it for simply what it was, a player who was thrown out of a game and thought the best course of action was not to come back to the ice after 60 minutes.
Vancouver Sun
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
NHL Entry Draft: Lewandowski stays back in Germany, watches draft remotely
When the NHL Entry Draft resumes Saturday in Los Angeles, Saskatoon Blades forward David Lewandowski won't be there. The talented import forward had the option of attending in person but chose not to make the trip from Germany to the United States. 'This year, it's kind of different, the draft.,' he explained via telephone from Germany. 'All the (NHL) teams are not there and all that. My agent (Allan Walsh, Octagon Hockey) said 'you can stay at home; it doesn't really matter.' I just thought I was away (from home) for so long that I was just going to stay at home.' Even so, it hasn't dampened his enthusiasm and anticipation of what may unfold today. The draft is all he can think about when he wakes up each day leading into this weekend. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'I'm very excited,' he said. 'In the mornings, I'm just thinking about the draft and just waiting and waiting. I can't wait.' Lewandowski entered the draft after being slotted in at No. 51 for the final NHL Central Scouting rankings. 'There's no pressure,' he said, adding that he had talked to a few NHL teams prior to the draft but had no preference or a favourite team. 'I'm just excited. I can't really do something about it. If someone wants me, they'll pick me. 'I don't really have a favourite team. I just like players. I like every team.' Favorite player? That would be Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov. Saskatoon Blades general manager Colin Priestner believes Lewandowski, from Dusseldorf, Germany, has a great chance to be selected within the next two rounds. 'I don't know — we will see,' said Lewandowski, who had 15 goals and 24 assists for 39 points in 52 games during the regular season. He added a goal and assist in four playoff games. Lewandowski left the Dusselforfer EG men's pro team, which plays in Germany's Del2 league, early last season in October for an opportunity to get more ice-time in the junior ranks by joining the Western Hockey League's Blades. 'I think it was the right decision because I didn't play much in the Del,' he explained. 'I wanted to play again and I had the opportunity in the WHL so I went over and got more ice-time and all that. It was good.' He is excited about what's next with the Blades and he's already got his plane ticket to return to Saskatoon for training camp. 'Of course,' he said. 'I'm always excited about a new season. I don't really have expectations for myself. I just want to play good (hockey) and play with the guys on the team. We have a good team and we will see how it goes.' And what is he looking to improve on himself? 'My first steps — I want to get more explosive with my first steps,' he said. 'and probably shoot more. Those two things, yeah.' Lewandowski also got to show his talents on the world stage, representing Germany at the IIHF world junior hockey championships where he scored a couple of goals. 'Lewandowski is a dominant puck protector who throws reverse hits and bulldozes contact,' reads the Elite Prospects 2025 NHL Draft Gyuide. 'His shooting has been a constant threat across his career. He rips pucks off his outside leg and possesses a powerful catch-and-release shot that he leverages with higher-end precision. Even more impressive, his physical skills – puck protection, especially – are the most translatable aspects of his game.' dzary@ The Saskatoon Star Phoenix has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox so you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe. With some online platforms blocking access to the journalism upon which you depend, our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed. Click here to subscribe.
Ottawa Citizen
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
NHL Draft: Lewandowski one of two Saskatoon Blades draft prospects
Article content A pair of Saskatoon Blades hope to hear their names called during this weekend's NHL Entry Draft. Article content European import forward David Lewandowski enters the draft after being slotted in at No. 51 for the final NHL Central Scouting rankings. Article content Article content Forward Hayden Harsanyi — who was acquired in the blockbuster trade that sent star defenceman Tanner Molendyk to the Medicine Hat Tigers — had a final Central Scouting ranking of No. 187. Article content Article content Both players were key additions to the Blades this past season. Article content Article content Blades general manager Colin Priestner believes the 6-foot-1, 177-pound Lewandowski, from Dusseldorf, Germany, has a great chance to be selected within the first three rounds. Article content Priestner says Lewandowski made the choice to leave his pro team in Europe, at the start of the year, to join the Blades and 'get more offensive opportunities than he was going to get playing men's league in Germany. 'He turned out to be one of our top players from pretty much Day 1,' noted Priestner. 'The sky's the limit for him in terms of what he can be as a player. He's got the size and the skill and the vision to be an NHL player.' Article content Lewandowski had 15 goals and 24 assists for 39 points in 52 games during the regular season. He added a goal and an assist in four playoff games. Article content 'The sample size on him is a little smaller for him than some of the other players,' pointed out Priestner. 'He was here for three-quarters of a season instead of two full seasons like a lot of other draft-eligibles. But I know I'm very bullish on him as a prospect. He's got a ton of upside at the next level, just how he thinks the game. I think there's a 90-point season for him ahead next season. Article content Article content 'With his size and ability, I feel he will be a high-value prospect for whoever takes him.' Article content Article content Lewandowski also got to show his talents on the world stage, representing Germany at the IIHF world junior hockey championship, where he scored a couple of goals. Article content 'That never hurts in front of all the scouts,' acknowledged Priestner, adding that Lewandowski was playing against others who were mostly two years older than him in that tournament. Article content 'It was a great sign that he could play with older players. I think he will be one of the best players, certainly on our team and in the (WHL East) division next year. I think he will (be drafted) somewhere in the second or third round is where I'm hearing.' Article content Harsanyi, a 5-foot-9 native of Calgary, had 12 goals and 12 assists in 37 games during the regular season, split between Medicine Hat and Saskatoon.
CTV News
30-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Classic Sports Moments - The Saskatoon Blades set a WHL record
Watch On November 9, 1982, the Saskatoon Blades scored 6 goals in 1:54 and set a new WHL record against the Prince Albert Raiders
