NHL News: Jonathan Quick defends Lemieux; snaps at Tkachuk, and Evander Kane clears waivers
Anthony Scultore
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Brendan Lemieux has been offered an in-person hearing by the NHL Department of Player Safety after he bit Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk on Saturday night.
Lemieux received a match penalty and was ejected after grappling with Tkachuk during the third period of the host Kings’ 4-2 win.
Tkachuk got up from the encounter with blood on his hand and told officials Lemieux had bitten him.
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Jonathan Quick defends Brendan Lemieux
Tkachuk was so incensed by the incident that he went on a rant about Lemieux as a person and teammate.
“This is the one time I’m going to answer this. It was the most gutless thing somebody could ever do,” Tkachuk said via Bruce Garrioch. “This guy, you could ask any one of his teammates, nobody ever wants to play with him. This guy is a bad guy and a bad teammate. He focuses on himself all the time.”
Today, Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick snapped back at Tkachuk.
“I have my own opinion about what happened, or did not happen last night, and what I can tell you is that any comments that were made about Pep were garbage,” Quick said via LA Kings Insider. “He’s a valuable player who sticks up for his teammates. We all support him and I’d rather have him on my team over that kid any day of the week.”
The question now is will Brady retort?
Evander Kane going to the AHL
San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane cleared waivers on Monday.
The Sharks reportedly now plan to assign the 30-year-old veteran to the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda.
Kane has not played this season and has not practiced since the start of training camp back.
On Oct. 19, the NHL suspended him 21 games for violating COVID-19 protocols after he reportedly submitted a false vaccination card.
His suspension ended Monday, as San Jose played its 21st game Sunday against the host Chicago Blackhawks.
Kane’s agent, Dan Milstein, tweeted Sunday that his client would report to the Barracuda if he cleared waivers.
“Evander is looking forward to resuming his NHL career this season,” Milstein posted.
Kane is in the fourth year of a seven-year, $49 million contract he signed with the Sharks in May 2018. He is still owed more than $20 million on that deal.
Last season, he led the Sharks in goals (22) and assists (27) while appearing in all 56 games.
He has 264 goals and 242 assists in 769 career games for the Atlanta Thrashers (2009-11), Winnipeg Jets (2011-15), Buffalo Sabres (2015-18) and Sharks.
–Field Level Media contributed to this report