Evander Kane Gambling Investigation: NHL Finds No Evidence; Estranged Wife Anna Says ‘Gag Order’ Prevented Her Participation
Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images. Pictured: Evander Kane of the San Jose Sharks.
The NHL said on Wednesday that its investigation into allegations that Sharks winger Evander Kane gambled on his own games yielded no corroborating evidence.
The league said its investigation also found no evidence that Kane did anything to negatively affect the outcome of any NHL game.
Kane's estranged wife Anna had alleged on social media in July that the hockey player gambled with bookies on his own matches and that he "threw" games in exchange for payouts.
The NHL launched an investigation in conjunction with the law firm Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler shortly thereafter.
The league said investigators analyzed relevant gambling information from Sportradar, a company with a fraud detection system that identifies betting-related match fixing.
The NHL also said it utilized court filings, social media, "non-public documents" and first-hand interviews as a part of its probe.
But while Kane, Sharks employees and other relevant parties were interviewed during the league's investigation, Anna Kane chose not to be questioned, the NHL said in its statement.
Anna told The Action Network on Wednesday that she could not partake in the investigation due to a "gag order" from a judge.
"That's why I didn't speak to [the NHL]," Anna Kane said.
Anna Kane did not respond to follow-up questions made by The Action Network requesting further elaboration.
NHL Deputy Commissioner and Chief Legal Officer Bill Daly told The Action Network in a statement that he wouldn't comment on Anna Kane's refusal to participate in the investigation because "that's more for her to know and comment on than us."
"But, I can safely say that our investigators approached her multiple times (and will continue to do so) in an effort to get her to speak with us regarding her allegations, concerns and what else she might know that is relevant to our investigation," Daly said in the statement.
Evander Kane had been granted by a judge a temporary restraining order against Anna in August after he alleged several instances of domestic abuse, including one argument where she hit him "seven to eight times in the face with her fist."
A hearing before a judge that would potentially make that temporary restraining order permanent is scheduled for later this month.
Anna Kane also filed a restraining order in California on Tuesday that accused the hockey player of several instances of domestic violence and sexual assault. A judge has not yet decided whether to issue a temporary restraining order regarding that case.
In the filings, she alleged Evander choked, punched and sexually assaulted her in separate incidents dating back to 2019. One alleged altercation took place in June 2021, Anna Kane said. Anna also accused Evander of inadvertently hitting their infant child.
The league did say in its statement on Wednesday that it would launch a separate, non-gambling related probe into "additional, unrelated allegations" made against Evander Kane.
Evander Kane’s lawyer, Travis Krepelka, said in a statement to The Action Network that “Evander denies ever abusing Ms. Kane or their daughter Kensington, whom he cherishes.”
Evander Kane had previously acknowledged that he once had a gambling addiction — one that resulted in millions of dollars in losses — but repeatedly denied the allegations made by his wife.
The 30-year-old had filed for bankruptcy in January and said in the petition that he had lost $1.5 million since 2020 from sports gambling and from gambling at casinos.
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas had also filed a lawsuit in 2019 seeking $500,000 in damages from Kane for unpaid casino debts. The casino dropped the case in 2020.
The NHL considers the investigation into Evander Kane's alleged gambling exploits closed, but says it reserves the right to investigate newly pertinent information.
Its final report goes as far as to say that the evidence they gathered "raises doubts about the veracity of [Anna Kane's] allegations."
It is unclear whether Evander Kane will suit up for the Sharks when they begin training camp on Thursday. San Jose's first preseason game is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 26 against the Anaheim Ducks.
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