Evander Kane Drama Explained as Hockey Player Shares Patrick Marleau Texts
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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Professional hockey players Evander Kane, Kurtis Gabriel and Patrick Marleau have become embroiled in an online drama after comments made in an interview and alleged text messages were shared online.
“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,” Kane posted on X on August 31.
After that post was shared, Gabriel shared a video on social media that featured an alleged screenshot of a message from Marleau’s wife, Christina, in which she said her husband has a “strong disgust” for Kane.
Newsweek has broken down the drama involving the ice hockey players and reached out to Kane, Gabriel and Marleau via social media for comment.
Kane is a Canadian left winger, known for his physical goal-scoring style. Most recently, he played for the Vancouver Canucks during the 2025-26 NHL season but is currently a free agent.
Gabriel is a Canadian former NHL right winger and enforcer who played for the Minnesota Wild, New Jersey Devils, San Jose Sharks, and Chicago Blackhawks before retiring from professional hockey in 2022.
Kane has had multiple controversies that have impacted his career over the years. In August 2021, he publicly admitted to having a gambling issue , but has denied betting on NHL games.
The NHL suspended him that October for reportedly using a fake COVID-19 vaccine card; the San Jose Sharks ultimately terminated his contract the following year over what the team called COVID protocol violations.
Kane's personal life has also generated scrutiny. His highly publicized divorce from ex-wife Anna Kane led to allegations including gambling on NHL games, domestic abuse and financial misconduct. The NHL investigated the gambling and abuse claims, stating it found no evidence to support the betting allegations and could not substantiate the abuse claims.
Christina Marleau is the wife of Patrick Marleau, the legendary Canadian forward who played in the NHL for 23 years, mainly with the San Jose Sharks. He retired in 2022 and remains the NHL's all-time leader in regular-season games played.
Patrick and Christina have four sons and have been active in charitable and community initiatives throughout his NHL career.
As of September 2026, Evander Kane does not have an NHL contract. His four-year, $20.5 million contract, which he originally signed with the Edmonton Oilers in 2022, expired at the end of the 2025-26 season, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Gabriel brought up Kane in a recent interview with the podcast San Jose Hockey Now .
The August 30 podcast episode ran for more than three hours, and near the end, Gabriel began speaking more broadly about hockey and reaching the milestone of playing a thousand games.
“Evander Kanes of the world—unbelievable to me that he gets to 1,000 games in the National Hockey League. That tells you a lot about the league,” Gabriel said.
Kane has played 1,001 games in his NHL career.
Sheng Peng, the host of the podcast, asked Gabriel if he wanted to say more, and Gabriel began to speak about Kane in more depth.
“Every meeting, every meeting Evander Kane shows up late,” he said. “Every time almost we start the meeting, the door clicks open. Here comes Evander in his flip-flops, in his tracksuit, when we’re in suit and tie or whatever.”
Gabriel added, “I’m not intimidated by him,” and said that Kane is a “typical bully.”
“It’s disgusting to me that a player can be talented and do that routinely and still have a job,” Gabriel said.
Kane did not reference Gabriel directly in his initial post on August 31.
In that post, he wrote, “A lot of people have become far too comfortable speaking publicly while relying on my silence. Enjoy it while it lasts.” He added, “When the time is right, everything will speak for itself.”
Gabriel then shared a video on X, with an alleged screenshot from Patrick Marleau’s wife, Christina Marleau. Gabriel said he had Christina Marleau's permission to make the post.
In the alleged screenshot, Marleau said, “Patrick wouldn’t allow our sons in the locker room if Evander was around. P doesn’t hate anyone…but he has an incredibly strong disgust for that boy.”
The alleged exchange also references custody of a girl.
Kane was granted sole custody of his daughter Kensington in 2021, during divorce proceedings with his estranged wife Anna.
Following Gabriel’s post, Kane questioned what he had said and shared alleged screenshots with him and Patrick Marleau, where he had helped with one of Marleau’s children's school projects.
In the screenshot, Marleau allegedly said, “Thank you so much for doing that!!! You have no idea how happy you made my son and his project partner. I’m so grateful for you to take the time.”
Kane wrote in his post, “'Strong disgust'? That’s an interesting way to describe someone who had no problem reaching out to me when he needed help with your son’s school project.”
He added, “Either his 'strong disgust' disappears when I’m useful to him, or the story you’re telling doesn’t quite match reality.”
Neither Patrick nor Christina Marleau has addressed the situation publicly.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Alabama Jackson and Sam Wilson .
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