NHL probe into Evander Kane’s alleged illicit gambling reportedly hits a snag
The NHL’s investigation into allegations that San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane gambled on and conspired to fix NHL games has reportedly slowed, and now it’s unclear if the league’s probe will be completed by the time the team begins training camp in roughly two weeks.
Investigators hired by the league to look into allegations made on social media earlier this summer by Kane’s estranged wife, Anna, that he gambled on NHL games and was “throwing games to win money” have so far been unable to interview her, Front Office Sports reported Wednesday.
Bill Daly, the NHL’s deputy commissioner, told this news organization early last month that the league expected to conclude its investigation into Kane by the start of training camp. But that initial schedule might be in jeopardy with the Sharks expected to begin training camp sometime during the week of Sept. 20.
“I’m not sure I can provide a definitive timeline at this point,” Daly wrote in an email Wednesday, “but we still intend to complete the investigation.”
In July 31 Instagram posts, Anna Kane asked: “How does the NHL let a compulsive gambling addict still play when he’s obviously throwing games to win money? Hmm maybe someone needs to address this,” she wrote.
“Can someone ask (Commissioner) Gary Bettman how they can let a player gamble on his own games? Bet and win with bookies on his own games?”
Just hours after the posts appeared, the league announced it would open an investigation.
“The integrity of our game is paramount and the League takes these allegations very seriously,” the NHL said in a statement. The Sharks, in their own statement, said they would support the investigation.
Evander Kane, who listed $1.5 million in gambling losses when he filed by Chapter 7 bankruptcy in January, took to Twitter Aug. 1 to deny the allegations, adding that he would cooperate with the NHL’s investigation.
Kane also noted then that the 2021 season was his best in the NHL, as he led the Sharks in goals (22), assists (27), and points (49). Front Office Sports also reported that an examination of betting trends on the Sharks last season did not reveal any abnormalities.
Anna Kane’s petition for divorce from Evander Kane was filed July 16, court records show.
Per the league’s collective bargaining agreement with the NHL Players’ Association, gambling by players on any NHL game is prohibited. League bylaws also contain a provision that says any player betting on any NHL game — whether it is his team’s game or not — may be expelled or suspended by the commissioner.
The NHL’s investigation team was assembled early last month by Jared Maples, who joined the league in May as its executive vice president and chief security officer. Maples is the former head of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security.