Evander Kane said he always envisioned testing the waters of unrestricted free agency.
That plan changed in May. Instead, he signed a seven-year, $49 million contract extension to stay with the Sharks one month before he was set to hit the market.
So, what exactly changed? With training camp right around the corner, Kane stopped by the NBC Sports Bay Area/California newsroom earlier this week to answer that question, and many others, in a wide-ranging 10-minute interview.
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NBC Sports California: When did you know you were coming back to San Jose?
Evander Kane: When I signed my deal. (Laughs) No, I had a really good feeling that I was going to be coming back. More so when the season was over officially, but even towards the end of the regular season, every indication was they wanted me back. This wasn't just a trade for a player, and go to the market. But I had a decision to make, and getting to know the organization over the three-and-a-half months I was here for and just kind of going through the whole process with [Sharks general manager] Doug [Wilson] and my agent [Donald Meehan] was really easy. It was a lot easier to make the decision not to test free agency than I thought it would ever be.
Why was it so easy to make that decision?
The group of guys we have in the room. The opportunity to win here. The city to be able to live in for the second half of my career. And, obviously, financially it made sense.
You saw the other side of that decision this summer with John Tavares. As someone who decided to skip out on going to market, what was it like watching that play out?
Ever since I got in the league, I always said I would never sell myself short and not test the market. Personally, I think if it was anybody but San Jose, I definitely would’ve. So I look at John Tavares, I think it's great. I think it's great that he went and tested the market and made his own decision. Didn’t really succumb to the NHL-type of persuasion or stigma of staying with the same team and re-signing. I thought it was great. Unfortunately, I thought it would have been better if he signed with us, but that was his decision. It's fun to see good players move.
How strong is that stigma of being a one-franchise guy?
You know what, sports is a business, and as players, we realize that. It's funny how when an organization makes a move best fit for their organization, everybody looks and goes, 'Well, this was a business move.’ But when a player makes the best business decision for themselves, you can be looked at as selfish, unloyal, unfaithful, whatever you want to call it. And I think that needs to change. And clearly, there’s gonna be mixed feelings, especially with a guy like John moving from the Islanders to Toronto. But like I said, I think it’s great. He made a business decision for himself, and I’m sure he’s happy.
San Jose Sharks
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Speaking of the business: Teams in the division were very active, and as recently as Sunday with the Golden Knights trading for Max Pacioretty. How do you look at the makeup of the Pacific Division right now, and where do you think the Sharks stand?
I think we stand really well. I see us as the best team, maybe that’s biased, but clearly, there’s been a lot of teams … You look at LA getting [Ilya] Kovalchuk, and Vegas going ahead and adding [Paul] Stastny and Pacioretty now to their group to stay competitive. It’s a tough division. We said the Central Division is the toughest division in hockey, but I think the Pacific Division would make a strong push for that title.
What does it mean to you see Wilson and management largely stand pat, and believe in you guys and say, "This is a group that’s good enough?"
I don’t think they stood pat. I think they obviously went hard after Tavares. They re-signed myself, [Logan] Couture as well. Realistically, you look at our team, we’re strong at every position. We have a lot of depth at every position. You go back to last year, we’re a goal away from going on to the conference finals, with maybe [Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre] Fleury playing his best hockey of his career against us in that series. I think we’re right there, and obviously a lot of things need to go right in order to win a Stanley Cup, but I feel we have the group that can do it.
[RELATED: After missing out on John Tavares, Sharks sign Logan Couture to eight-year extension]
Now in addition to signing, you were also busy writing. Or, at least talking to someone who was writing. What was that process like --
It was all handwritten. All the grammar was on me …
All copy edited by you?
Yeah, absolutely. I --
How was that process?
It was good. It was fun. I think it gave people some good insight in a short article about what had went on in the process of moving to San Jose, and why everything worked so well, and dived a little bit into some of my past teams. I thought for the most part it was really positive, and I think it was really well-taken by a lot of people.
You wrote about your time in Atlanta, and a line that stuck out to me was that it felt like you had failed, even though there was nothing you really could have done about the team moving. What was that burden like of being a black player in a majority-black city trying to grow the game?
I think what I really meant by that was that we had such loyal fans. It was disappointing because I did love the city so much, and I felt that was reciprocated by them with me as a player, and being that first-round pick [in 2009] ... We were getting better, and it was disappointing to be able to move because I wanted it to work there. I really enjoyed my time there, and then when that decision happened, it was tough. But I really was excited to go to Winnipeg and a Canadian market that I knew was going to be sold out every single night.
As well this summer, an idol of yours in Willie O’Ree was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. What was it like when you found out he was finally getting the call?
It was great. Long overdue, as I’ve mentioned before. It was nice that he was recognized at the highest level for hockey. I know players like myself were very happy. I think it was obviously the right thing to do, and he’s been such a pioneer and inspiration in growing the game, especially in the United States, for young kids from all backgrounds. Even in this area here in Oakland and in San Jose. I think it was my first game that I played in San Jose, he was actually at the game. It was great to be able to catch up with him and see him.
What was that conversation like? What did you guys talk about?
Oh, he was just talking about the move [to the Sharks]. We won the game, and I played pretty well, so he was congratulating me and just catching up.
What’s it like to meet someone of that stature?
I had met him many times before, like I said. So I’ve gotten to know him well over the course of my career. He’s just such a pioneer of the game, and if it weren’t for him, there wouldn’t be players like myself having that opportunity to play in the NHL. He’s a legend, and it’s nice that he was recognized that way.
Now speaking of a legend: Joe Thornton coming back healthy. You guys didn’t have a chance --
Who?
He’s a player for the Sharks. I think he picked you up from the airport at one point. … I hope you tipped him.
(Laughing) Yeah.
The potential to play with him. Do you think about that?
For sure. I remember he called me when I got traded, he was super excited. He was working his ass off to get back on the ice so we could play together. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen. But I’m very glad that he re-signed, and I’m going to have that opportunity to play with him this year and hopefully have some success. He’s a great passer. He sees the ice so well. He’s so big and strong and can make those tight plays, and I’m a goal-scorer. I’m a shooter, so I think he’s excited to play with me as well.
[READ: Fresh off signing new contracts with Sharks, Hertl and Thornton think they have more to give]
And you fit so well with the other Joe -- Joe Pavelski -- when you came over. What was it about your games that allowed you guys to click?
Very similar to Jumbo, he makes those little plays. He slows the game down. He’s not the quickest player in the world, but he’s able to really handle that puck, control the game from the center of the ice, or when he plays the wing on the right side. Guys I enjoy playing with are very unselfish guys as well, and that’s key to having chemistry with your linemates. I’m looking forward to the combination, or whoever it’s with. But I think me and the Joes can be really good. I can add some speed and help them out that way.
You definitely brought a physical element when you came to the Sharks. You also dealt with some injuries. How do you strike that balance of playing physically and maintaining your health?
Yeah, it’s tough. You can’t go out there scared to get hurt because that’s when things happen, or that’s when you’re not playing your best. When you play a physical brand of hockey, and a hard brand of hockey, things like that are gonna happen. You’re gonna have those bumps and bruises, and sprains and tears, and all that kind of stuff, but it’s part of being a hockey player, and it’s part of the process.
How easy was it to deal with that pain when you got your first taste of the playoffs?
It made it a little easier, but the playoffs are hard. It’s next level from the regular season. The wear and tear on the body, it’s all about rest and relaxation, and you’re really only getting on the ice for games when you’re going through things like that. It was a good learning experience. You always want to be healthy, but everyone’s going through something at that time of the year.
Now that you’ve been to the postseason, are you able to think about anything else? Or are you just like, "I want to get back there again?"
No, the regular season’s a big part. You have to earn your way into the playoffs. That’s something I’ve really realized over the course of the season and the course of my career. It’s not easy to make the playoffs. That’s an accomplishment in itself, but now that I’ve had that taste, I don’t want that to go away.
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and readability.