Evander Kane

Evander Kane

Kane with the Winnipeg Jets in October 2014
Born (1991-08-02) August 2, 1991
Vancouver, British Columbia
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 204 lb (93 kg; 14 st 8 lb)
Position Left Wing
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Buffalo Sabres
Atlanta Thrashers
Winnipeg Jets
HC Dinamo Minsk
National team  Canada
NHL Draft 4th overall, 2009
Atlanta Thrashers
Playing career 2009–present

Evander Frank Kane (born August 2, 1991) is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger currently playing for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). Kane was selected fourth overall in the first round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft by the Atlanta Thrashers.

During his major junior career, Kane won the Memorial Cup with the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League (WHL) in 2007, finished as runner-up for the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as WHL rookie of the year in 2008 and was named to the WHL West First All-Star Team in 2009. Kane also set the Giants' franchise record for single-season goals in 2008–09.

Internationally, Kane has won gold medals with Team Canada at the 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and 2009 World Junior Championships. He has also competed in the 2010 IIHF World Championship.

Early life

Kane was born on August 2, 1991, in Vancouver, British Columbia, to Perry and Sheri Kane, who named him after American boxer Evander Holyfield (he later met Holyfield at age 18).[1][2] Kane has two sisters, Brea and Kyla, who are two and four years younger, respectively.[3]

Coming from an athletic lineage, his father was an amateur boxer[4] and hockey player. Kane's mother was a professional volleyball player.[1] His uncle, Leonard Kane, is a member of the Canadian Ball Hockey Hall of Fame.[5] Kane's cousin, Dwayne Provo, played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for seven years and spent one season with the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL).[6] Another cousin, Kirk Johnson, boxed for Canada at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona and later fought John Ruiz for the 2002 World Boxing Association (WBA) Heavyweight title.[6]

Growing up in East Vancouver, Kane attended high school at John Oliver Secondary.[7] In addition to hockey, he played baseball, basketball and soccer growing up.[6] After beginning to skate at the age of three, he began playing minor hockey at eight. His father instructed him in his early years and initially wanted to keep him out of organized hockey until Kane was ten.[8] At the age of 14 years, Kane recorded 140 points in 66 games with the bantam North Shore Winter Club,[9] followed by a 22-goal, 54-point campaign to finish fourth in league scoring with the Greater Vancouver Canadians of the BC Hockey Major Midget League (BCMML).[10] Kane also played minor hockey with the Vancouver Thunderbirds, prior to bantam and midget.[7]

Playing career

Amateur

A black, teenage hockey player as seen from the side, cut off below the shoulders. He is looking towards the left intently during a game. He wears a white, visored helmet and a white, black and red jersey with "Kane" written on his upper back and a maple leaf on his upper arm.
Kane during the 2009 WHL playoffs

Vancouver Giants (2006–09)

Kane was drafted 19th overall in the 2006 WHL Bantam Draft by the Vancouver Giants.[9] He received his first WHL call-up for a game against the Seattle Thunderbirds on December 13, 2006, due to other Giants players international commitments in the World Junior Championships.[9] Kane scored his first WHL goal, a game-tying marker, on March 25, 2007, the last game of the regular season.[11] He also suited up for five WHL post-season games, being originally called up for the playoffs after Giants forward Tim Kraus was suspended for game three of the opening round.[11] He later appeared in two Memorial Cup games, tallying an assist,[12] as part of the Giants' 2007 Memorial Cup championship.[13]

Set to begin his rookie campaign with the Giants the following season, Kane experienced a minor setback, as he was forced to miss the start of training camp with a case of mononucleosis.[14] He nevertheless recovered and joined the Giants full-time to tally 24 goals – third in team scoring –[15] and 41 points in his first WHL season. Finishing tenth in rookie scoring, he was nominated for the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as WHL rookie of the year, which was awarded to Brayden Schenn of the Brandon Wheat Kings.[13]

Kane emerged with an impressive start to the 2008–09 season, registering at least a point in each of his first 22 games.[16] After recording his first WHL hat-trick on October 10, 2008, against the Kelowna Rockets, he was named WHL Player of the Week on October 12, succeeding linemate Casey Pierro-Zabotel, who had been chosen the previous week.[17] Kane earned a spot as an injury replacement at the 2009 World Junior Championships with Team Canada. Upon returning with a gold medal, Kane was named player of the week for the second time in the season on January 12, 2009, after scoring six points in two games immediately following the World Juniors.[18] Later that month, he participated in the 2009 CHL Top Prospects Game[19] as captain for Team Cherry.[12]

Kane finished his second WHL season with 48 goals and 96 points, fourth in League scoring.[20] He surprassed Adam Courchaine's team record of 43 goals in a single season, set in 2002–03.[21] Second in team scoring to Pierro-Zabotel's 115 points, the linemates finished one-two in all-time Giants' single-season scoring as Pierro-Zabotel and Kane both surpassed Gilbert Brulé's previous 87-point mark.[22] Kane received WHL West First Team All-Star honours along with teammates Pierro-Zabotel and Jonathon Blum.[23] In the subsequent 2009 playoffs, after the Giants swept the Prince George Cougars in the first round, Kane scored a double-overtime game-winner to force a seventh game in the second round against the Spokane Chiefs.[24] After eliminating the Chiefs in the seventh game, the Giants were then defeated by the Kelowna Rockets in six games in the semi-finals. In 17 post-season games, Kane accumulated 15 points.

Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets (2009–2015)

Kane was selected fourth overall by the Atlanta Thrashers. Less than a month later, the Thrashers signed Kane to an entry-level contract on July 20, 2009.[25]

Kane as a member of the Atlanta Thrashers

Kane made the Thrashers' lineup out of his first NHL training camp for the 2009–10 season. He recorded his first career NHL point in his debut on October 3, 2009, earning an assist on a goal by Rich Peverley against the Tampa Bay Lightning.[26] His first goal was scored five days later, on October 8, beating Chris Mason with a snap shot in a 4–2 win over the St. Louis Blues.[27] He suffered a bone fracture, late in his rookie season, blocking a shot during a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 6, 2010.[28] Kane missed 15 games before returning to the lineup on April 3.[29] Kane finished his NHL rookie campaign with 14 goals and 26 points in 66 games, ranked 12th among first-year point-scorers.[30]

Kane suffered several minor injuries during his second NHL season in 2010–11 season. During a game against the Colorado Avalanche on November 30, 2010, Kane suffered a left knee injury after he was struck by a shot from teammate Tobias Enström;[31] he missed two games.[29] The following month, he missed one game due to an arm injury,[29] sustained during a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on December 7.[32] In January 2011, he missed an additional six games due to a lower-body injury.[29] Kept from the lineup for a total nine games, Kane increased his points total to 43 with 19 goals and 24 assists. He ranked fifth in team point-scoring – third among forward behind captain Andrew Ladd and Bryan Little.[33]

Kane in March 2012 with the Winnipeg Jets

During the off-season, the Thrashers franchise was bought and relocated by True North Sports and Entertainment, becoming the Winnipeg Jets. Kane was enjoying a successful first season as a Jet, leading his team in scoring with 18 goals and 31 points by mid-January 2012. During that month, however, he was sidelined with a concussion that was reported on January 21. Later in the season, he recorded a four-point game (two goals and two assists) in a 7–0 win against the Florida Panthers on March 1, 2012.[34] On September 15, 2012, Kane signed a six-year, $31.5 million contract extension with the Jets.[35]

As a result of the 2012–13 NHL lockout, Kane joined Dinamo Minsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He was the first Canadian NHL player to sign a contract with the KHL.[36] However, after 12 games with the club, in which he recorded one goal, Kane was released. The club's athletic director suggested that Kane "could not adapt to hockey in the KHL," but also said that both sides mutually agreed to end the contract.[37]

On April 3, 2014, Kane was accused of assault, after an incident in Vancouver, and sued for financial damages.[38] On April 5, 2014, Kane was a healthy scratch under new head coach Paul Maurice, in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.[39] After the game, Maurice said it was a coach's decision, and that if Kane wanted back in the lineup, all he needed to do was "probably just come to the rink." On February 3, 2015 Kane was a healthy scratch against the Vancouver Canucks. It was later determined that he was scratched because of an incident with his teammates.[39] Kane revealed in an October 2015 interview that he felt the Jets did not "have his back" throughout his legal and behavioral issues[40] but instead felt that they traded away their problem. On August 1, Kane plead not guilty to charges alleging he grabbed three women during an altercation at a downtown Buffalo bar in June 2016.[41]

During his time in Winnipeg, he was involved in a number of controversies regarding his race.[42] He often blamed the negative press he was getting for his off-ice behaviour on the racism of the people of Winnipeg.

Buffalo Sabres (2015–present)

The Jets traded Kane on February 11, 2015, as well as Zach Bogosian and the rights to Jason Kasdorf, to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Tyler Myers, Drew Stafford, Joel Armia, Brendan Lemieux and a conditional first-round pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft (Jack Roslovic).[43] On October 14, 2016, Kane cracked three ribs in the season-opening game when he crashed into boards while fighting for the puck with Alexei Emelin of the Montreal Canadiens, which left him unable to play indefinitely.[44]

International play
Medal record
Representing  Canada
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
2009 Ottawa
Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament
2008 Pardubice

Kane competed in the 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, capturing gold with Canada's under-18 team.[45] He totalled four points in four games,[46] including an assist in the 6–3 gold medal game win against Russia.[47] Later that year, Kane competed on Team Canada during the 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[45] As the youngest player on the team,[48] Kane contributed six points in six games, helping Canada to a fifth-straight gold medal with a 5–1 victory over Sweden in the final.

Following his rookie season in the NHL, Kane was named to the Canadian men's team for the 2010 IIHF World Championship in Germany. General Manager Mark Messier made a specific effort to assemble a young team;[49] as a result, Kane was one of five teenagers on the roster.[50] He finished the tournament with two goals and two assists in seven games. Canada was eliminated in the quarterfinal by Russia and finished in seventh place.[51]

The following year, Kane returned to the national team for the 2011 IIHF World Championship in Slovakia.[52] Kane recorded two assists over seven games as Canada suffered a second consecutive defeat in the quarterfinal to Russia.[53]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2005–06 North Shore Winter Club Bantam 66 — — 140 — — — — — —
2006–07 Greater Vancouver Canadians BCMML 30 22 32 54 150 — — — — —
2006–07 Vancouver Giants WHL 8 1 0 1 11 5 0 0 0 0
2007–08 Vancouver Giants WHL 65 24 17 41 66 10 1 2 3 8
2008–09 Vancouver Giants WHL 61 48 48 96 89 17 7 8 15 45
2009–10 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 66 14 12 26 62 — — — — —
2010–11 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 72 19 24 43 68 — — — — —
2011–12 Winnipeg Jets NHL 74 30 27 57 53 — — — — —
2012–13 Dinamo Minsk KHL 12 1 1 2 47 — — — — —
2012–13 Winnipeg Jets NHL 48 17 16 33 80 — — — — —
2013–14 Winnipeg Jets NHL 63 19 22 41 66 — — — — —
2014–15 Winnipeg Jets NHL 37 10 12 22 56 — — — — —
2015–16 Buffalo Sabres NHL 65 20 15 35 91 — — — — —
NHL totals 426 129 128 257 476 — — — — —

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2008 Canada U18 1st, gold medalist(s) 4 1 3 4 6
2009 Canada WJC 1st, gold medalist(s) 6 2 4 6 2
2010 Canada WC 7th 7 2 2 4 6
2011 Canada WC 5th 7 0 2 2 4
Junior totals 10 3 7 10 8
Senior totals 14 2 4 6 10

Awards

CHL

AwardYear(s)
Memorial Cup (Vancouver Giants) 2007

WHL

AwardYear(s)
Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy nomination (rookie of the year) 2008[13]
Player of the Week October 12, 2008[17]
January 12, 2009[18]
West First All-Star Team 2009[23]

International

AwardYear(s)
Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament gold medal (Team Canada) 2008
World Junior gold medal (Team Canada) 2009

Records

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Evander Kane Draft Prospect Card". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  2. ↑ Waldie, Paul (2011-12-05). "Jets' Evander Kane bangs, buries his way into limelight". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2011-12-17.
  3. ↑ Steve Ewen (2009-06-21). "Kane takes unique route to be a top pick". The Province. Retrieved 2010-09-18.
  4. ↑ "Perry Kane will be a proud father on Draft day". National Hockey League. 2009-06-16. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
  5. ↑ "Leonard Kane". Canadian Ball Hockey Association. Retrieved 2010-04-11.
  6. 1 2 3 Ben Wright (2009-06-29). "Family the Foundation for Evander Kane". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on 2010-11-04. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
  7. 1 2 "Giants bank on Kane". Vancouver Sun. 2006-05-05. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  8. ↑ Tait, Ed (2011-12-03). "Busting loose". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2011-12-17.
  9. 1 2 3 Steve Ewen (2006-12-13). "Hay impressed by 15-year-old winger". The Province. Archived from the original on 2010-12-13. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  10. ↑ "Major Midget League Statistics – 2006–07". BC Hockey Major Midget League. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  11. 1 2 "Giants turn to callup to fill hole". Vancouver Sun. 2007-03-27. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  12. 1 2 "Confident Kane continues to grow his name". National Hockey League. 2009-03-17. Retrieved 2009-03-23.
  13. 1 2 3 "Vancouver Giant nominated for WHL rookie of the year". Vancouver Sun. 2008-03-20. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
  14. ↑ "Prospect Kane to miss Giants camp with mono". The Province. 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  15. ↑ "2007–08 Regular Season – Vancouver Giants". Western Hockey League. Retrieved 2009-12-15.
  16. ↑ "Giants find more ignition trouble at Tri-City's Toyota Center". The Province. 2008-11-30. Retrieved 2008-12-03.
  17. 1 2 "Giants' Evander Kane named Boston Pizza WHL Player of the Week". OurSports Central. 2008-10-13. Retrieved 2010-09-20.
  18. 1 2 "Sensational season continues for World Junior giant, Evander Kane". CTV BC. 2009-01-12. Retrieved 2009-01-12.
  19. ↑ "Evander Kane chosen for Top Prospects Game". CTV BC. 2008-12-19. Retrieved 2008-12-20.
  20. ↑ "Top Scorers: 2008–09 Regular Season, All Players". Western Hockey League. Archived from the original on March 9, 2008. Retrieved 2009-03-15.
  21. 1 2 "Giants Win 5–4 in OT over Blazers". OurSports Central. 2009-02-21. Retrieved 2010-11-04.
  22. ↑ "WHL:Vancouver Giants defeat Medicine Hat in come-from-behind win". Vancouver Sun. 2009-01-28. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
  23. 1 2 "Six Giants Named to WHL All-Star Teams or Awards Finalists". OurSports Central. 2009-03-18. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
  24. ↑ "Giants Earn Double OT Win – Force Game Seven". OurSports Central. 2009-04-13. Retrieved 2010-09-18.
  25. ↑ "Thrashers sign first-rounder Kane to entry-level contract". TSN. 2009-07-20. Retrieved 2009-07-20.
  26. ↑ Vivlamore, Chris (2009-10-03). "Thrashers open season with victory". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 2009-10-03.
  27. ↑ "Thrashers at Blues – 10/08/09". National Hockey League. 2009-10-08.
  28. ↑ Vivlamore, Chris (2010-03-08). "Thrashers lose Kane, Schubert to injuries". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 2010-03-11.
  29. 1 2 3 4 "Evander Kane". The Sports Network. Retrieved 2010-04-12.
  30. ↑ "2009–10 Regular Season – Rookie – All Skaters – Summary – Total Points". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2010-04-12.
  31. ↑ Vivlamore, Chris (2010-12-03). "Thrashers' Evander Kane practices, but status is uncertain". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 2011-04-15.
  32. ↑ Vivlamore, Chris (2010-12-31). "Thrashers notebook: Evander Kane returns". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 2011-04-15.
  33. ↑ "2010–2011 Regular Season Atlanta Thrashers Points Leaders". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2011-04-15.
  34. ↑ Hennessy, Kristi (2012-03-01). "Jets pounce Panthers, 7–0". Winnipeg Jets. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
  35. ↑ Canadian Press (2012-09-16). "Jets sign forward Kane to six-year, $31.5 million deal". TSN.ca. Retrieved 2012-09-29.
  36. ↑ Canadian Press (2012-09-28). "Jets' Evander Kane signs with KHL's Dinamo Minsk". CBC.ca. Retrieved 2012-09-29.
  37. ↑ Canadian Press (2012-11-16). "Evander Kane done at Dinamo Minsk". Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2013-01-06.
  38. ↑ McIntyre, Mike (3 April 2014). "Jets star Evander Kane slapped with B.C. suit". Winnipeg Free Press.
  39. 1 2 Peaslee, Evan (11 February 2015). "A timeline of Evander Kane 'episodes' with Jets". SportsNet.
  40. ↑ Kane says Jets "Didn't Have My Back". http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/kane-believes-the-jets-didn-t-have-his-back~735548
  41. ↑ "Sabres' Kane pleads not guilty to charges in N.Y. bar incident".
  42. ↑ "Jets star Evander Kane says racism fuels some of his critics".
  43. ↑ "Kane, Bogosian dealt to Sabres in eight-player blockbuster deal". TSN. February 11, 2015. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  44. ↑ LaBarber, Jourdon (October 14, 2016). "Kane out "weeks" with cracked ribs". NHL.com. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  45. 1 2 "Kane added to Canadian world junior roster". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2008-12-21. Retrieved 2009-12-07.
  46. ↑ "2008 Under-18 Statistics". Hockey Canada. Retrieved 2008-12-22.
  47. ↑ "First period outburst helps Canada claim under-18 gold". Hockey Canada. Retrieved 2008-12-22.
  48. ↑ "2009 IIHF World Junior Championship – Canada Roster". Hockey Canada. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
  49. ↑ "Young core leads Canada into hockey worlds". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2010-05-05. Retrieved 2010-05-14.
  50. ↑ "Canada's young guns deliver in hockey opener". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2010-05-09. Retrieved 2010-05-14.
  51. ↑ "Young Canadian team has bitter time". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2010-05-20. Retrieved 2010-05-22.
  52. ↑ "Kane, Clutterbuck commit to joining Canada at worlds". The Sports Network. Canadian Press. 2011-04-12. Retrieved 2011-04-15.
  53. ↑ "Game Summary" (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation. 2011-05-12. Retrieved 2011-05-19.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Evander Kane.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Daultan Leveille		 Atlanta Thrashers first round draft pick
2009 		Succeeded by
Alexander Burmistrov

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