Sharks, Evander Kane agree to settlement over contract termination

Evander Kane and the San Jose Sharks reached a settlement Friday on the grievance he filed over the termination of his contract last season.

The Sharks announced the agreement that they said was approved by the NHL and the Players' Association, saying they were "satisfied that its terms will not adversely impact the team, either financially or competitively, in this or future seasons."

Kane in a statement posted to Twitter thanked fans for their support and said the adversity has made him stronger.

The Sharks terminated Kane's contract in January for violating virus protocol while with their top minor league affiliate, the American Hockey League's San Jose Barracuda. The contract termination cost Kane just under $23 million US from the $49 million, seven-year contract he signed in May 2018.

Kane and the NHL Players' Association filed a grievance contending the Sharks didn't have sufficient grounds to make that move. While that process was ongoing, he signed for the remainder of the season with the Oilers and re-signed for $20.5 million over four years in Edmonton.

The 31-year-old is with his fourth NHL organization after being drafted by Atlanta, going to Winnipeg when the Thrashers became the Jets and getting traded to Buffalo and then San Jose. He fit in well with the Oilers, helping them reach the Western Conference final.