Evander Kane Called Out By Ex-Teammate: 'Pure Narcissism'
Kurtis Gabriel, who played alongside Kane in San Jose during the 2020-21 season, ripped into his former teammate on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast with Sheng Peng.
"It's disgusting to me that a player can be talented and do that routinely and still have a job," Gabriel said. "Someone like that kiboshes the whole mentality of the locker room. You can't handle pure narcissism."
I sent this message to @evanderkane on Instagram before this clip came out, and Kane read it:
— Kurtis Gabriel (@kurtisgabriel_) August 30, 2026
We Are One 🙂↕️🙏🏻
Hey Kaner,
I was speaking my truth about my life on the SJHN podcast and stories and I brought you up. Clips are coming out tomorrow from it.
I meant everything… pic.twitter.com/z2IY6rwqAo
What Set Him Off
Gabriel pointed to the team meetings that defined his experience with Kane.
"Every time almost, we start the meeting, the door clicks open, and here comes Evander in his flip-flops. In his tracksuit when we're in suit and tie or whatever," Gabriel said. "I'd snap on him, because I'm not intimidated by him. He usually can intimidate and bully people cause he's tough, and he can throw lefts and, you know, he's a big boy. But he kinda is just the typical bully."
Kurtis Gabriel RIPPED former Sharks teammate Evander Kane while discussing their time together in San Jose 😳
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) September 1, 2026
Kane responded with a message of his own, promising “facts, receipts, and the actual truth” when he eventually shares his side 👀🍿 pic.twitter.com/MCYtT56gq8
Gabriel went further, saying Kane's own teammates eventually reached a breaking point. "I've never seen such a great player and a team say, 'We don't want him here.'"
To his credit, Gabriel didn't paint himself as blameless either, admitting he's done plenty he regrets himself, and suggested some of Kane's behavior in San Jose may have stemmed from personal struggles rather than pure ego.
Kane Already Knew It Was Coming
Before the podcast clips went public, Gabriel sent Kane a heads-up directly on Instagram. "I sent this message to @evanderkane on Instagram before this clip came out, and Kane read it," Gabriel posted alongside a screenshot of the message. "We Are One. Hey Kaner, I was speaking my truth about my life on the SJHN podcast and stories and I brought you up. Clips are coming out tomorrow from it. I meant everything."
I can’t wait for the day I decide to share “my truths.” The only difference? Mine will come with facts, receipts, and the actual truth.
— Evander Kane (@evanderkane) August 31, 2026
For now, I’ll simply say this: a lot of people have become far too comfortable speaking publicly while relying on my silence. Enjoy it while it…
Kane's Sharks tenure ended badly regardless of Gabriel's account. San Jose terminated his contract in January 2022 after the league found he'd violated COVID-19 protocols, and he signed a one-year deal in Edmonton weeks later.
Since then, he's had stints with the Oilers and Vancouver Canucks, but heading into this season, the 35-year-old remains unsigned, with reputational baggage that keeps following him from stop to stop.
