Russian media urges KHL not to take in Evander Kane

The KHL, widely regarded as the second best hockey league in the world behind the NHL, has a habit of taking in players and coaches that have been disgraced or shunned in North America. From Bill Peters to Brendan Leipsic, former NHLers who have been pushed out due to embarrassing and/or unethical acts have found a home in the Russian-based Kontinental Hockey League. However, a recent opinion piece by Sport-Express.ru is urging the league not to touch Evander Kane should he become available.

Kane is embroiled in a ton of controversy right now. The San Jose Shark has filed for bankruptcy reportedly due to gambling debts, while his estranged wife has accused him of betting on his own games and not providing for their child. Kane has denied these accusations, but it seems his teammates have had enough as several reports have stated they don't want him back in the dressing room. The likelihood that any other NHL team would take him is very low, leaving San Jose with just one option; buying him out. Should that happen, Sport-Express.ru is telling the KHL to leave him where he is.

"If the KHL opens its doors to such a hockey player, it will not only lose some of its credibility in the eyes of the world hockey community, but will also demonstrate any lack of self-respect," said Sport-Express.ru

That's a strong statement for a league that welcomed Leipsic, who was found to have made several awful comments regarding the wives and girlfriends of current and former teammates in an Instagram post. Peters is now the head coach of the KHL's Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg after being ditched by the Calgary Flames when it was revealed he had directed racist comments towards Akim Aliu while he was a coach in the AHL.

"...in the case of Kane, the clubs of our league should take a tough stance and prevent the appearance of the Canadian in the KHL. It is one thing for Leipsic, who stumbled only once, and a completely different thing for a player who throughout his career demonstrates his bad character and any lack of self-discipline, bringing only problems to his teams and corrupting the team from the inside."

If Kane is bought out by San Jose, it will be interesting to see if he seeks a spot in the KHL and whether the league heeds the words of Sport-Express or decides it's a risk worth taking. Kane would certainly be an offensive star in the KHL, which may make signing him tempting for several teams in and around Russia.

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