Edmonton Oilers: Zack Kassian, From Rehab to Fan-Favorite

“Drug Addict.” “Alcoholic.” “Psycho.”

These were all used to describe Zack Kassian, shortly after he fell from grace. The former Canucks winger was an interesting kind of player to many. He was a big, tough guy who would fight, intimidate and work other guys out on the ice, but he possessed skill and ability that gave him the potential to be a top-six forward.

After some time in Vancouver, where he put up decent numbers, he was dealt to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Brandon Prust. Kassian didn’t spend too long in Montreal, and his life turned upside down on an early October morning.

He was involved in a car crash, where he broke his foot and his nose and crashed into a tree. Kassian was under the influence at the time of the accident, and that’s when it was reveled that Kassian had been addicted to drugs and alcohol.

Kassian went into rehabilitation and joined the NHL’s substance abuse and behavioral health program. He completed 90 days in the program, and continued to fight the battle within, and after finishing, he was placed into Stage Two of the program and allowed to reenter the NHL and play with the Habs.

However, the Canadiens decided to place him on waivers, and when no one picked him up off the wire, he was soon traded.

No one was expecting it to be Peter Chiarelli on the other line, but he called, wanting to add size and grit to Edmonton’s lineup. So the deal was made, and the Canadiens traded Kassian to the Oilers in exchange for goaltender Ben Scrivens.

The goon started off again in Bakersfield, where he could get some conditioning in before rejoining the big club. In his first game for the Condors, he would sit in the penalty box for the first two minutes, having to serve for a starting violation. However, once he was unleashed, he was ready to get out there and play.

He slammed Kyle Stollery into the boards and then continued to skate. He played a solid first game with Bakersfield, and in his second, he scored his first goal.

As he continued to improve on the ice, he has taken steps to change his life off. He sees himself as a completely different person, as he has told the media, and he is ready to make the most of this “last call.” He’s stopped drinking altogether, and he remains focused on the ice in front of him.

If he messes up one more time, it’s no more NHL, and no money from any of the teams he played for. And that is a motivator, but altogether, he realizes he has the opportunity to seize his life dreams in front of him. He is one of the fortunate ones who really got the opportunity to go play in the National Hockey League.

Since then, Kassian has been a great presence with the Oilers. In 23 games with Edmonton, he has three goals and three assists, as well as 57 hits and a whooping 72 PIM. He’s played on a top line with Taylor Hall and Leon Draisaitl, and as he continues onwards, he will be joining Connor McDavid tonight against the Minnesota Wild.

Next: Edmonton Oilers Reunite Hall and McDavid, Bring in Kassian

He brings positivity, grit, strength, size and perseverance to the locker room, and that is something that makes all the difference.