NHL finds 'no evidence' that Evander Kane gambled on league games
The NHL found no evidence that San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane bet on NHL games or tried to throw games after investigating allegations made by his estranged wife.
Anna Kane alleged in an Instagram post this summer that Kane bet on NHL games and was "obviously throwing games to win money," launching a probe by the league.
The NHL released the findings of that investigation conducted by Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP in conjunction with NHL Security on Wednesday, a day before the Sharks are set to begin training camp.
The league said the investigation included detailed reviews of social media, public data, court filings from Kane's bankruptcy proceeding and pending divorce and a review of sports betting data and analysis. The league said it interviewed Kane and other members of the Sharks organization but Anna Kane declined to participate in the probe.
"The investigation uncovered no evidence to corroborate Ms. Kane's accusations that Mr. Kane bet or otherwise participated in gambling on NHL games, and no evidence to corroborate the allegations that Mr. Kane `threw' games or did not put forward his best effort to help the Sharks win games," the league said in a statement. "To the contrary, the evidence raises doubts about the veracity of the allegations.
"While Mr. Kane denied the accusations, our findings are not based on these denials but instead on other evidence uncovered during the investigation."
Investigators analyzed gambling data from recent seasons from SportRadar, a leader in the fields of sports data collection and analysis.
The league said the review of that data and interviews with people familiar with Kane's play "yielded no evidence to corroborate Ms. Kane's allegations that her husband gambled on NHL games or `threw' hockey games."
The league said it considers the case closed but retains the right to investigate if new information arises.
Anna Kane also made allegations in a restraining order application filed in Santa Clara County Family Court this week that Kane physically and sexually abused her during their marriage.
Kane's attorney, Travis Krepelka, denied those allegations in a statement, saying "Evander denies ever abusing Ms. Kane or their daughter Kensington, whom he cherishes."
The league is investigating those charges as well and won't have any comment until the investigation is completed.
Kane, 30, is three seasons into a $49 million, seven-year contract. He's with his third organization after being drafted by and debuting with Atlanta/Winnipeg and a stint in Buffalo. According to Capfriendly, which charts hockey salaries, he has made just under $56 million during his NHL career.
Last season, he had 22 goals and 27 assists in 56 games.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.
Amish youth experience a rite of passage called Rumspringa. It’s not what you might think
The idea of “Rumspringa” has a specific spot in the American imagination. A rite of passage for young people in some Amish communities, Rumspringa is seen by most outsiders as a wild time away from strict Amish rules, when teenagers can experiment with the modern vices of the world.
Djokovic needs medical attention after getting knocked on the head by a water bottle at Italian Open
Novak Djokovic needed medical attention after apparently getting knocked on the head by a water bottle after a win at the Italian Open on Friday.