Do you think Evander Kane's challenge to Jake Paul is a good idea?

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T. Tadi
May 10, 2021 (10:18)

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It was difficult to talk about something else after the news of San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane's bankruptcy broke, particularly given how quickly the information started to trickle in.

Now, several months later, Kane tells Ryan S. Clark of The Athletic that he is grateful that the matter is public and that it happened so soon, because he doesn't have to sit around and wait for the news to break and deal with it throughout the season.

Since he understands how the larger Twitter population acts, the fiery and opinionated 29-year-old says it's easier for him to just turn the other cheek. Given what we know about how he handles conflict on the ice, his cool and fair attitude comes as a bit of a surprise.

"It's just funny to me how people are so quick to jump to a conclusion on whatever they hear. I find that so irresponsible. Without knowing any of the details, let alone few of them. We don't really deal in fact anymore. We deal whatever story we decide to make up in our own head based off the little bit of information we have or the opinion we read about. I think for a lot of people in the public spotlight, that is the frustrating part with doing what you do on a daily basis.

I knew that my bankruptcy filing was going to become public. I didn't know it was going to become public so quickly and I was a little surprised with that. It was actually, probably a blessing. I didn't have to wait around for it. I got it out of the way. I am a big believer in today's news is tomorrow's ass wipe. Don Hay referenced that a lot in junior. That has always been my approach to the media and how to handle it mentally.

Unless you do something wrong or truly at fault for something or truly concerned about what might actually happen, social media is a place where people like to go out. I use it to read the news, especially Twitter. You find out what's going on in the day. I use it as fuel. I use it as comedy. Sometimes, I ignore it. But I am not afraid of what anyone else says.

I've never met anyone who would say something on Twitter who would ever say that face to face. Nobody has ever done that. It is two very different tones. I take social media with a grain of salt. I know some guys, it really wears on them. For me, I like to know what's going on."

With his financial difficulties and having been through something as life-changing as bankruptcy and the uncertainty that comes with it, you'd expect some kind of external distraction and the potential for a negative effect on his overall game, but Kane is in the midst of his best statistical season of his career, with 49 points in 49 games.

Kane credits his success this season to settling into his new position in San Jose as well as continuing to work on and develop his overall game in order to keep up with the league's rising stars. He believes that the positive and motivating community in San Jose is assisting him in moving forward.

"I think ever since I got to San Jose, it's definitely been a blessing with how I have been treated here and how I have been supported. I feel like I have earned my role and the responsibilities I have been given.

If you look at my numbers throughout the course of my tenure in San Jose, they are drastically higher than some of the places I've been but you want to get better and better each year. I feel like I am 21 years old physically in terms of my energy on the ice.

I think consistency is so hard to keep up in this league I think you can create a lot of value as a player if you are able to do that. You ask anyone, scoring goals in the league is the hardest thing to do. I think I have been able to do that with extreme consistency. But I'm never satisfied. It's a mindset of continually wanting to be better and wanting to keep up with these young superstars like the McDavid's, the Matthews' and make sure you are staying somewhat in the vicinity of that pace.

I think I've picked my spots a little bit more and focused a little bit more on putting the puck in the net and being a consistent offensive player. But, at the same time, being physical because that helps me and my linemates."

Aside from the bankruptcy, Kane has made headlines after challenging YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul to a fight. Kane, who isn't afraid to throw down the gloves on the ice, had seen Paul knock out basketball player Nate Robinson and wasn't impressed, so he challenged Paul to a boxing match via social media in December. Clark decided to comment on this to see if Paul's challenge was real or just social media bluster.

"Yeah, I'm serious. Oh yeah, 100 percent. People ask is it because I want to get paid. Yeah, I want to get paid! But honestly, I grew up in it a little bit. I am a very competitive person. From what I have seen from him, there is nothing to be impressed about. He does a lot of talking and it might be a Matt Cooke moment for him."

Kane is certainly one of a kind. It's amazing to me that someone who has so much going on can just shut it off when he needs to in order to get the job done on the ice, can endure what he has had to endure off the ice and still maintains a presence on social media. That's some combination of perseverance, thick skin and the right attitude, man.