Buffalo Sabres left winger Evander Kane left Thursday night’s season-opening game against the Montreal Canadiens late in the second period after falling hard into the boards and breaking multiple ribs. It is unclear when he will be able to return.

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Latest on Kane’s Playing Status

Friday, Oct. 14

Kane will miss multiple weeks after suffering three cracked ribs, per Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald.

On Thursday, Sabres PR announced Kane was initially taken to the hospital “for further evaluation and precautionary measures.”

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Injury Latest Setback in Kane’s Career

Kane is in his second season with the Sabres after a disappointing six-year stretch with the Winnipeg Jets.

The fourth overall pick in the 2009 draft recorded 20-plus goals in only one season, which came in the form of a 30-goal 2011-12 campaign.

While his production was inconsistent, attitude issues worsened his relationship with the Jets, forcing the team to trade him to the Sabres in February 2015 while he was on the injured reserve list because of a shoulder injury.

He missed the rest of the 2014-15 season but recorded 20 goals and 15 assists in 65 games for the Sabres last year.

Despite a change in scenery and a decent showing in terms of goal-scoring, off-ice issues followed Kane.

“Kane, 25, is charged with misdemeanor criminal trespass and five noncriminal charges of disorderly conduct and harassment in connection with encounters he allegedly had with female patrons and a bouncer at a Buffalo bar in June,” John Vogl of the Buffalo News wrote. “He is scheduled to return to court Oct. 31.”

The team has already lost second-year phenom Jack Eichel to a high-ankle sprain that’s expected to hold him out for six to eight weeks, according to NHL.com’s Amalie Benjamin. Losing another prospective 20-goal scorer will further hurt Buffalo’s offense.

While Kane recovers, the Sabres could turn to second-line left winger Tyler Ennis to step up. After seasons with 20 and 21 goals, respectively, injuries limited the 27-year-old to three goals and eight assists in 23 games last year.

                            

Stats courtesy of Hockey-Reference.com.

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