Sharks' Kane clears waivers, will be assigned to AHL

Evander Kane went unclaimed on the wire, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

The San Jose Sharks waived the forward Sunday, and assistant general manager Joe Will said the team planned to send Kane to its AHL affiliate if he cleared.

The NHL suspended Kane for 21 games in October for violating the league's COVID-19 protocol. He's under contract with the Sharks through 2024-25.

Kane's contract normally carries a $7-million cap hit. That came off the books while he was suspended, and it will be back on the ledger at a reduced rate if the team demotes him.

If Evander Kane is assigned to AHL today, the #SJSharks will carry a $5.875M Cap Hit for him ($1.125M is the burying threshold). Up to this point, they carried no cap hit for him as he was suspended without pay.https://t.co/65yIXaWBM7 https://t.co/wLMGCLKYRV

- PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) November 29, 2021

The NHL cleared Kane following a September investigation focused on his estranged wife Anna's allegations that he bet on hockey and threw games. The league later opened two more probes into the winger, absolving him in one related to his relationship with Anna but handing him the aforementioned ban for a matter related to COVID-19.

The league reportedly looked into Kane's alleged use of a fake vaccination card as part of the latter inquiry.

The 30-year-old hasn't played a game this season as the result of his suspension.

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