The Sharks have placed Kane on unconditional waivers on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, with the intent to terminate the remainder of his $49 million, seven-year contract. Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Sharks have placed forward Evander Kane on unconditional waivers with the intent to terminate the remainder of his $49 million, seven-year contract.

The Sharks said Saturday that they made the move because Kane violated COVID-19 protocols in the AHL where he is currently playing for the Barracuda. The termination of the contract will cost Kane about $22.9 million remaining from the contract he signed in May 2018.

“We are aware of the Sharks’ decision to put Evander on waivers for contract termination,” said Kane’s agent, Dan Milstein. “If he clears, we will file a grievance. The Sharks do not have sufficient grounds for taking this action.”

The NHLPA issued a statement on Twitter saying the union also “intends to challenge any such action by filing a grievance.”

The move ends a months-long saga regarding Kane’s status with the Sharks. He faced accusations of gambling on games, purposely losing games he bet on, as well as sexual and physical abuse from estranged wife Anna over the summer.

The NHL investigated and found no evidence to support those allegations but did suspend Kane for 21 games for submitting a fake COVID-19 vaccination card. When the suspension was lifted at the end of November, the Sharks placed Kane on waivers and sent him to the AHL when he was unclaimed.

Kane had eight points in five games with San Jose Barracuda in the AHL before being placed in the AHL’s COVID-19 protocols on Dec. 22.

“I was just as surprised to hear as everybody else,” Coach Bob Boughner said Saturday before the team’s game in Philadelphia. “Obviously, it’s a management decision. I say the same thing that we’ve been dealing with here for a long time when his name comes up, it’s not really a focus of this group. We’re focused with the guys we have moving forward.”

The 30-year-old Kane had 22 goals and 22 assists in 56 games last season for the Sharks. Kane also has played for the Atlanta/Winnipeg franchise and Buffalo since being drafted by the Thrashers fourth overall in 2009.

OILERS: Edmonton placed five more players into the NHL’s COVID-19 protocols.

Forwards Kailer Yamamoto and Brendan Perlini, goaltender Ilya Konovalov and defensemen Evan Bouchard and Slater Koekkoek were added to the list. Star center Connor McDavid, defenseman Tyson Barrie and center Derek Ryan were already in the protocols.

Six members of the team’s support staff also were added to the list Saturday.

SATURDAY’S GAMES

STARS 3, PENGUINS 2: Roope Hintz and Joe Pavelski scored 75 seconds apart late in the third period, and Dallas stopped Pittsburgh’s 10-game win streak with a victory in Dallas.

Hintz scored on a backhander at 16:14 after Pavelski converted a rebound at 14:59, sending the Stars to their fourth straight win.

Denis Gurianov also scored and Jake Oettinger stopped 27 shots for Dallas. Jason Robertson assisted on all three goals.

Brian Dumoulin and Kasperi Kapanen scored in a 25-second span early in the first period for the Penguins. Tristan Jarry made 29 saves.

SHARKS 3, FLYERS 2: Tomas Hertl completed his hat trick 24 seconds into overtime to lift San Jose to a victory at Philadelphia.

James van Riemsdyk scored both goals for Philadelphia, which has lost five in a row. Martin Jones had 44 saves.

PANTHERS 4, HURRICANES 3: Anthony Duclair scored at 2:53 of overtime to give visiting Florida a win over Carolina.

Carter Verhaeghe had two goals and Jonathan Huberdeau got a goal and an assist as Florida extended its points streak to six games (5-0-1).

Teuvo Teravainen, Brady Skjei and Seth Jarvis scored for the Hurricanes, who lost for just the second time in their last 11 games.

BLUE JACKETS 4, DEVILS 3: Oliver Bjorkstrand scored twice to lead Columbus past visiting New Jersey, halting a three-game skid.

Boone Jenner and Igor Chinakhov also scored for the Blue Jackets, who rebounded from Thursday’s loss at New Jersey and beat the Devils on home ice for the sixth straight time.

AVALANCHE 5, MAPLE LEAFS 4: Devon Toews scored 1:12 into overtime and Colorado rallied from a three-goal deficit to beat Toronto for its franchise-record 11th straight home victory.

After Jack Campbell robbed Toews with a diving glove save in the third period, Toews beat the goaltender between the legs from the left side for his sixth goal of the season. Colorado hasn’t lost at home since Nov. 3 against Columbus and surpassed the previous team record of 10 consecutive home wins set three times before.