Something really off with Kass and skating part of it. I don't think since Covid and contract he has had any incentive. My suspicion is he's not training hard offseason, not into it.
But theres something really off in despondency. Thats the exact word I would use. I won't get into what happened before the play ins more, and I can't say what I want to say here. But the word starts with an R. Its something I suspect strongly. Either he has, or he's featuring thought processes that put him at risk of it. He's not happy. Not saying this in isolation, in one video, in all of them. He's not chirping, not engaged, not having fun out there. When has anybody even seen him smile in a year?
Brady Tkachuk can't even get this guy going and he's chirping him relentlessly. Matthew drilled Kass several times this year and no response.
Another thing? CTE. Zach is a prime candidate. I think he knows it. I don't think this ends well. My sense is Kass really needs some off ice help. Hope he's getting it.