Evander Kane's next team is officially confirmed and it's a surprising signing
Photo credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Evander Kane has signed a one-year KHL deal with Sibir Novosibirsk after reportedly passing on North American offers, leaving his NHL future in doubt.
Evander Kane has found his next stop, and it is in Siberia.
The 35-year-old winger signed a one-year contract with Sibir Novosibirsk that covers the 2026-27 KHL season, ending weeks of uncertainty after he went unsigned in North America.
Kane's agent, Dan Milstein, said earlier this month that his client had options in North America but chose Russia, and Ak Bars Kazan had been linked to him beforehand.
Sibir made it official on Tuesday, adding a former NHL scorer with plenty of playoff miles.
What Kane leaves behind in the NHL
Kane departs after 1,001 NHL games, 339 goals and 309 assists.
He added 55 points in 97 playoff games and reached the Stanley Cup Final with the Edmonton Oilers in both 2024 and 2025.
His last NHL stop was his hometown Vancouver Canucks, a stint that did not go according to plan, and his contract there expired without a new deal materializing.
Why Sibir is willing to take the risk
Sibir general manager Lev Krutokhvostov was candid about it.
He acknowledged Kane's reputation as a difficult personality, suggested a team can use a player with that edge to lead from the front, and pointed to his power-play ability as the clearest strength.
Kane has been in the KHL before. During the 2012 NHL lockout he played 12 games for Dinamo Minsk, scoring once, adding an assist and finishing minus-8.
This time he arrives as a veteran with a full season ahead of him.
The one-year length keeps the door ajar.
A strong season could put Kane back in the NHL conversation next summer, though at 35 nothing is guaranteed, and his production in Russia will decide whether anyone calls.
For Sibir, the appeal is straightforward: a proven power-play weapon on a short commitment.
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