The league did not see the hit as a violation of Rule 48, which governs checks to the head, and it believes the head is not the main point of contact, according to Sportsnet's John Shannon.
Chara caught Kane up high before the two players dropped the gloves in the third period of Tuesday night's game between the Boston Bruins and San Jose Sharks.
Kane called Chara's initial check a "classic headshot" when asked about it postgame, according to TSN.
Chara was ultimately assessed an elbowing minor and a fighting major for the ensuing scrap, while Kane received a fighting major, an instigator penalty, and a game misconduct
Unlike Don Cherry and Brian Burke, Gary Bettman doesn't have a problem with the Carolina Hurricanes' post-win "storm surge" performances.
"I happened to talk to some of the players this morning about it, and we had a fun conversation," the NHL commissioner said Tuesday prior to the Hurricanes' win over the Los Angeles Kings, according to the club's senior web producer, Michael Smith.
"The players enjoy doing it," Bettman continued. "That's important. The fans enjoy seeing it. To me, that's the most important element as to what goes on after a game when there's a win."
The commissioner then specifically mentioned Cherry, the "Hockey Night in Canada" pundit who called the players "a bunch of jerks" earlier this month.
"I consider Don Cherry a friend, and I respect him, but we can agree to disagree on certain things," Bettman said. "The fact is, how fanbases connect with our game evolves over time. What might work in an Original Six city might not work in a city or market that's newer to the game.
"Think back to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim on opening night and (mascot) Wild Wing propelling from the rafters. People said, 'Oh, my. How could you do that?' Think about Nashville with the chants and rituals they have and involving country music. That's different. Think about what goes on now in Las Vegas. What each team does to connect with its fans is going to be tailored for their fans and their market. As long as the people involved are feeling good about (it), then who's to complain?"
The Hurricanes have performed many unique victory celebrations this season, including a mimed walk-off home run, a limbo contest, bowling, and a game of duck, duck, goose. They projected "bunch of jerks" onto the ice following Tuesday night's win over the Kings.
In the fifth edition of theScore's Norris Trophy Power Rankings, a fresh face makes his debut in the top five, and there's a new leader at No. 1. To view the previous rankings, click here.
ATOI = Average time on ice SCF% = Percentage of scoring chances generated while player was on the ice at 5-on-5 HDCF% = Percentage of high-danger scoring chances generated while player was on the ice at 5-on-5 Courtesy:Natural Stat Trick
5. Roman Josi, Predators
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
GP
G
A
P
ATOI
SCF%
HDCF%
66
14
37
51
25:09
52.16
50
Josi debuts on this list after a slow start to the campaign. His production is elite during five-on-five play, but the veteran's issues with the man advantage have capped his offensive ceiling this year.
As P.K. Subban struggles through an injury-plagued down season, Josi has excelled with more responsibility. He's averaging nearly a full minute more per game than any other Predator.
4. Kris Letang, Penguins
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
GP
G
A
P
ATOI
SCF%
HDCF%
60
15
38
53
25:55
54.79
53.93
The Penguins are in unfamiliar territory as they fight for a playoff spot. The Pens were deep enough to win a Stanley Cup in 2017 while Letang was hurt, but it's difficult to imagine where they'd be without him this season.
He ranks among the league leaders in ice time and is averaging nearly five minutes more per night than any other Pittsburgh blue-liner. Despite the challenging workload, Letang continues to drive play at an exceptional rate.
3. Morgan Rielly, Maple Leafs
Kevin Sousa / National Hockey League / Getty
GP
G
A
P
ATOI
SCF%
HDCF%
62
15
46
61
22:48
51.3
51.0
Even during the Maple Leafs' long power-play dry spell, Rielly is maintaining his top-tier offensive production, as his 44 points at even strength lead all NHL defensemen.
Toronto added Jake Muzzin, but Rielly is still lugging around the aging Ron Hainsey as his defense partner, and that alone should result in some sort of award.
2. Mark Giordano, Flames
Gerry Thomas / National Hockey League / Getty
GP
G
A
P
ATOI
SCF%
HDCF%
61
13
46
59
24:42
55.73
52.88
Giordano drops one spot on this list after a less-than-spectacular February. The 35-year-old has arguably been the most responsible blue-liner in the league this year, all while producing at a high level offensively.
The Norris race should be a photo finish, and Giordano needs to end the season strong to come out on top.
1. Brent Burns, Sharks
Brandon Magnus / National Hockey League / Getty
GP
G
A
P
ATOI
SCF%
HDCF%
64
13
57
70
24:53
53.26
54.88
Burns is contributing more than Giordano offensively, and that outweighs the latter's slight edge defensively.
Burns has stepped up lately, registering 15 points during the Sharks' 8-3-1 run since last month's rankings. Erik Karlsson was injured for all but five of those 12 games, providing further evidence of Burns' value.
"I grew a lot in my time there and really thankful for the impact a lot of people had on me," Tavares said on Tuesday, according to TSN's Mark Masters. "I'm not trying to overthink it. I just try and go out there and be myself and play and help the Maple Leafs."
Tavares gave the Islanders new life, and his decision to leave cuts deep among fans of a team that hasn't experienced much success in several decades. The 28-year-old is well aware that he could face an unpleasant greeting.
"Yeah, I mean, you have a sense for what it might be like so whatever it is, it will be, I'll just try and go out there and try to play," he said.
Tavares carved out his legacy on Long Island, scoring 272 goals and recording 621 points to rank seventh and fifth, respectively, in franchise history. In 2016, the five-time All-Star led the Islanders to their first playoff-series victory since 1993.
“I really embraced being an Islander,” he said. “I loved it. It was a great place to play. I never didn’t enjoy my time there even when times weren’t going well.
"I did everything I could to just help the team hopefully win a Stanley Cup and unfortunately we weren't able to do that and I take responsibility, especially being the captain, not doing a good enough job consistently."
The Mississauga, Ontario native is on pace for career highs in goals and points during his first season with the Maple Leafs.
The Islanders blanked Toronto 4-0 in the first and only meeting between the teams this season, with Tavares recording five shots on goal.
League commissioner Gary Bettman met with Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon on Tuesday to tour Carter-Finley Stadium as the NHL considers the club's pitch to host an outdoor game in Raleigh, N.C., according to Michael Smith of NHL.com.
Bettman also met with North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, general manager Don Waddell, and several Hurricanes players during his visit, reports Smith.
"We are taking it very seriously and looking at the possibility," Bettman said of a prospective outdoor tilt at the NC State Wolfpack's 57,500-seat home stadium.
Dundon has been in Bettman's ear about hosting an outdoor event for over a year and said in October that progress was being made on a potential game. The Hurricanes owner previously admitted his club plays in too small a market to host the Winter Classic but wants to stage an event for the team and its fans.
If Dundon is to get his wish, Bettman said it won't be until the 2020-21 campaign at the earliest; next season's slate of outdoor games has already been announced.
The Dallas Stars and Nashville Predators will meet at Cotton Bowl Stadium for the Winter Classic, while the Los Angeles Kings and Colorado Avalanche will play the Stadium Series at the United States Air Force Academy's Falcon Stadium. The Winnipeg Jets and Calgary Flames will also square off in the Heritage Classic, but that event has only ever featured Canadian teams.
Dundon took over as owner of the Hurricanes in late 2017 and almost immediately made significant changes to the club's front office. He's garnered attention for some interesting quotes, like saying he'd never draft a defenseman in the first round.
Despite the tumultuous nature of his early tenure, the Hurricanes currently occupy the second wild-card spot and have frequently been the talk of the league for their creative celebrations following home wins.
Morrissey has been an anchor on Winnipeg's blue line this season. In 59 games, he's registered 31 points while averaging 22:24 minutes per night on the Jets' shutdown pair alongside Jacob Trouba.
General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff was seemingly prepared for this outcome, as he acquired two left-handed defensemen - Nathan Beaulieu and Bogdan Kiselevich - before Monday's trade deadline.
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Alex Edler was unwilling to waive his full no-trade clause ahead of the deadline, general manager Jim Benning said Monday, according to The Canadian Press.
Benning revealed that teams did call about Edler's availability, but once the Canucks contacted Edler's agent, the player declined the option to be moved elsewhere.
Edler, who's spent his entire career with Vancouver, is scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency on July 1. It was reported Friday that the two sides are working towards an extension, which Benning confirmed during his press conference.
Quality rental defensemen were a rare commodity leading up to the deadline. Nick Jensen, Ben Lovejoy, and Adam McQuaid were among the most notable pending UFA blue-liners moved in the last week.
Edler, 32, has 20 points in 38 games while averaging 23:24 minutes per night. The Canucks have controlled 45.7 percent of the shot attempts and 48.2 percent of the high-danger scoring chances while Edler has been on the ice at five-on-five this season (according to Natural Stat Trick). The smooth-skating 6-foot-3 defenseman has 65 games of playoff experience.
The former Minnesota Wild forward was with his fiancee, who was about to give birth to their first child, when he got the call that he had been traded to the Nashville Predators.
"I did talk to him as a father and now a grandfather," Predators general manager David Poile said, according to Paul Skrbina of the Tennessean. "I didn't even say anything to him about the trade for five minutes. I told him how important it was for him to take care of his wife and the baby and what a great day this is for he and his family.
"We'll have more of a hockey conversation with him after the baby born."
Wild general manager Paul Fenton told reporters he felt bad about the timing of the trade.
The #MNWild traded Mikael Granlund to Nashville today in exchange for Kevin Fiala. Granlund’s fiancee also went into labor. GM Paul Fenton said he felt bad about the disruption. @FOX9@Fox9Sportspic.twitter.com/gw7gPP9shi
