After missing practice on Monday due to sleeping in, Buffalo Sabres winger Evander Kane will not suit up in Tuesday’s game in Ottawa against the Senators. Head Coach Dan Bylsma said that Kane broke a team rule and will be dealt with by the Sabres’ staff and front office internally. He also added that he was unaware of Kane’s actions Sunday night, in which Kane attended the National Basketball Association’s All-Star Game in Toronto with his younger sister. Kane said that called in to say he wasn’t going to make it to practice because of a late night at the NBA All-Star Game.
Coach Bylsma: Evander Kane missed practice. Broke a team rule. We will be dealing with it internally.
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) February 15, 2016
This is not Evander Kane’s first time around missing a team event. In February of 2015, when he was still playing for the Winnipeg Jets, he showed up to practice wearing a track suit, and immediately was confronted by teammate Dustin Byfuglien, whom then proceeded to throw the track suit into the team shower. Later that day, Kane did not show up for the pre-game team meeting, and when contacted less than an hour before puck-drop, said that he was not playing and hung up.
The incident in Winnipeg eventually led to Kane being put on the trade block, and traded to the Buffalo Sabres as part of a multi-player move last spring.
Evander Kane has been a contributor for the Sabres, posting 16 goals and 8 assists in 47 games played this season, (Via NHL.com), but if he is to remain a contributor and in position to help his team succeed, off-ice incidents such as Monday’s will not help.
Main Photo Credit:
Main Photo Caption: NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 25: Evander Kane #9 of the Buffalo Sabres passes the puck against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on January 25, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
