Confirmed with Link: Kassian Signs - 4 Years, 3.2M Per

[Czechboy]

This type of player in UFA would have gotten paid.

Sorry, missed that.. you're right. But UFA's are the most expensive type of hockey players to get. Lucic and Neal come to mind. The key to building teams is through drafting and developing in a cap world.

I was happy trading him a month ago when his value was high. He was almost a cult hero after Tkachuk. A rental making 2 million a year that was going UFA could've got us something. Now we have Kassian in the pressbox for a very important stretch of games (playoff run, Connor is hurt).

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

From your link:

View attachment 320901

Kassian is now 29.

View attachment 320905

The new contract starts in his early 30's.

Remember the baseline here is a peak season of 30 points and the rest in the mid 20's.

Using TSN for this stat for penalty killing:

View attachment 320911

1:16

Here are all the Oiler's. Note it's 3 pages long. You won't find him on page 1.

View attachment 320919

But here he is on Page 2

View attachment 320917

To my eye, he kills as many penalties as Neal. NHL Statistics - Stats of the National Hockey League

I do agree his 5 on 5 has been good this year.. of course, he is playing 5 on 5 with McDavid. I doubt his 5 on 5 was very good the other years but I won't be digging it up. Call that a hunch based on multiple sub 30 point seasons.

A lot of people have mentioned his speed. I agree he's not slow. But are we talking 3rd on the team in speed behind McDavid and Nygard (who signed for less to come back). Or are we just saying faster than Chiasson, Gagner and Neal? I'd honestly have him close to the middle for speed on the team. Also, just a hunch. Another hunch tells me McLeod will be quicker than him next year and McLeod is also a good bottom 6 player. Except that he'll make less than a million and be entering his peak years if he makes the NHL (big IF).

I do believe in intangibles (eg. I'm pro Nurse and a lot of people aren't)... obviously we can't measure them well. But another intangible he has is taking dumb penalties and getting suspended. Eg. 9 games in 2020.

As far as leadership/core... this was actually a great time for him to step up. McDavid and Neal are gone. The team needs versatile players that can move around the lineup... and he got suspended for the second time in a month. I'm positive you can't find one season where Kassian was clutch or key in his team(s) ever making the playoffs. He certainly isn't helping this year.

Here are his career playoff stats:

View attachment 320933

I do agree that he'd be good in a bottom 6 role... but he needs to be playing with McDavid to earn that contract. I also don't think a team as top heavy salary wise (which I'm okay with) as the Oiler's should be handing out 4 year contracts to bottom 6 players. All the other guys (except Gagner) are 2 million or less and 2 years or less.

Since signing the contract (during suspension) I can officially say that he has:

2 points
2 suspensions for 9 games
Meaning he will have 2 points in the first 17 games after signing his contract. While I agree his kick wasn't malicious and I thought it'd be 6 games... he was stupid to do it and totally deserved a suspension.

To me, that is an intangible too. The reason, to me, that Kassian types are challenging to find is because they're not part of the modern game anymore. They are being phased out much like shot blocking Dmen are.

Just using next season... he'll make more than Yamamoto, Jones and Nygard combined. I just don't see the value.

Key in all of this is he's a UFA and was going to get paid. This team's management, coaching and teammates all wanted this player signed - many varied reasons for that. Trading him I guess would have been an option (real world vs. video games this is not a simple process. Especially on a team lurching toward, at least competing finally, for a playoff run in February. This has real risk for chemistry including star line mates McDavid and Draisaitl who valued and stated their appreciation for the role Kassian played and success he contributed to. Fans of a decade failing franchise watching another quality player walk out the door via trade or free agency would not have been well received by many (majority?) and fans are finally voting with their wallet staying away from filling the rink. There's downside (optic and economic) as well if this team is perceived as dumping players on a winning team competing for Division Champions but more likely division or wildcard playoff spot.

He should make more than Yamamoto, Jones and Nygard. That's how the NHL works with veterans earning more while offsetting with cheap, young talent that keeps costs down. Flipping Kassian for more cheap talent or worse 'lottery tickets' has been pretty much a failing strategy that's kept the Oilers brutal forever. Kassian is perceived as a leader, recognized for stepping up to a first line role in absence of quality wing support and has delivered his best season after many lost years impeded by disease (alcoholism) that cost him realizing first round pedigree talent.

As far as the 'incident' this will pass. He's not helped his team with a selfish act but it won't be career defining. This team has incredible coaching which is keeping the team focused throughout all adversity it has and will faced. They finally have a strong leadership core (of which Kassian is but one) and together they will keep the team focused on the job of winning. As you point out, Kassian hasn't been light's out since the contract signing (and intensity of Flamer games) so this team will have opportunity to grind out winning games without a number of important players. Maybe the seven game detention helps Kassian to focus and bring out his best for the rest of the stretch... who really knows. But all is could have, would have, should have.

This team does not exist in a vacuum. With more than a decade of failure, this new Management and Coaching group has stressed continuity as their way forward and in their approach to lurching this failed franchise forward. Holland and Tippett view Kassian as a valued part of the present and team's future for at least four years. They see (I believe) as I do that Kassian's utility will bear out over the four years of employment in a number of ways that contribute to this team winning hockey games. Maybe they could have gone shorter term with higher price tag (doubtful thanks to the Salary Cap handcuffs from Chiarelli); maybe they could have gone more years for less money with a potential UFA (but going beyond age 32 has greater risk of maintaining the varied contributions this player offers); or maybe they could have traded this player before UFA summer (who knows the return? the risk of chemistry with a player whose absorbed first line minutes and protector?).

I thought Kassian would be in the $3-3.5 million range. Where the mutual parties involved arrived I have to agree that it meets the needs of all involved. And quite honestly if Kassian's contract is a cap burden in its final year then it might be quite likely that Holland has failed in righting the Titanic.

 

[Czechboy]

Key in all of this is he's a UFA and was going to get paid. This team's management, coaching and teammates all wanted this player signed - many varied reasons for that. Trading him I guess would have been an option (real world vs. video games this is not a simple process. Especially on a team lurching toward, at least competing finally, for a playoff run in February. This has real risk for chemistry including star line mates McDavid and Draisaitl who valued and stated their appreciation for the role Kassian played and success he contributed to. Fans of a decade failing franchise watching another quality player walk out the door via trade or free agency would not have been well received by many (majority?) and fans are finally voting with their wallet staying away from filling the rink. There's downside (optic and economic) as well if this team is perceived as dumping players on a winning team competing for Division Champions but more likely division or wildcard playoff spot.

He should make more than Yamamoto, Jones and Nygard. That's how the NHL works with veterans earning more while offsetting with cheap, young talent that keeps costs down. Flipping Kassian for more cheap talent or worse 'lottery tickets' has been pretty much a failing strategy that's kept the Oilers brutal forever. Kassian is perceived as a leader, recognized for stepping up to a first line role in absence of quality wing support and has delivered his best season after many lost years impeded by disease (alcoholism) that cost him realizing first round pedigree talent.

As far as the 'incident' this will pass. He's not helped his team with a selfish act but it won't be career defining. This team has incredible coaching which is keeping the team focused throughout all adversity it has and will faced. They finally have a strong leadership core (of which Kassian is but one) and together they will keep the team focused on the job of winning. As you point out, Kassian hasn't been light's out since the contract signing (and intensity of Flamer games) so this team will have opportunity to grind out winning games without a number of important players. Maybe the seven game detention helps Kassian to focus and bring out his best for the rest of the stretch... who really knows. But all is could have, would have, should have.

This team does not exist in a vacuum. With more than a decade of failure, this new Management and Coaching group has stressed continuity as their way forward and in their approach to lurching this failed franchise forward. Holland and Tippett view Kassian as a valued part of the present and team's future for at least four years. They see (I believe) as I do that Kassian's utility will bear out over the four years of employment in a number of ways that contribute to this team winning hockey games. Maybe they could have gone shorter term with higher price tag (doubtful thanks to the Salary Cap handcuffs from Chiarelli); maybe they could have gone more years for less money with a potential UFA (but going beyond age 32 has greater risk of maintaining the varied contributions this player offers); or maybe they could have traded this player before UFA summer (who knows the return? the risk of chemistry with a player whose absorbed first line minutes and protector?).

I thought Kassian would be in the $3-3.5 million range. Where the mutual parties involved arrived I have to agree that it meets the needs of all involved. And quite honestly if Kassian's contract is a cap burden in its final year then it might be quite likely that Holland has failed in righting the Titanic.

I kept reading about his penalty kill prowess on here so I actually went to a second source:

NHL.com Stats

Turns out he doesn't penalty kill at all. Just plays 5 on 5 with McDavid as he also doesn't get PP time.

I thought he'd get 4 x 4... which is why I desperately wanted him traded because it's not a good deal for the Oil. He's going to be our highest paid bottom 6 player for quite awhile now. I definitely didn't say trade him for 'magic beans' or give him away. He had value as a rental.

 

[McDNicks17]

I kept reading about his penalty kill prowess on here so I actually went to a second source:

NHL.com Stats

Turns out he doesn't penalty kill at all. Just plays 5 on 5 with McDavid as he also doesn't get PP time.

I thought he'd get 4 x 4... which is why I desperately wanted him traded because it's not a good deal for the Oil. He's going to be our highest paid bottom 6 player for quite awhile now. I definitely didn't say trade him for 'magic beans' or give him away. He had value as a rental.

He was consistently used on the 2nd PK unit in the three seasons prior to this one and had the best results on the team, statistically.

 

[redgrant]

Just a reminder that Kassians contract does not have a no trade clause. Holland can move him in 2 years if hes not panning out.

 

[Czechboy]

He was consistently used on the 2nd PK unit in the three seasons prior to this one and had the best results on the team, statistically.

So he used to be a 2nd PK guy and now he's not used at all.

As far as excellent... The oil had a terrible PK last year (when he was on it) and now have a good PK (he does not PK anymore).

He is a 5 on 5 player on McDavids wing this season.

 

[McDNicks17]

So he used to be a 2nd PK guy and now he's not used at all.

As far as excellent... The oil had a terrible PK last year (when he was on it) and now have a good PK (he does not PK anymore).

He is a 5 on 5 player on McDavids wing this season.

He's not used now because there's about 6 players on the team that can only PK and nothing else.

When he was on it, he allowed goals against at the lowest rate.

 

[Samus44]

He was consistently used on the 2nd PK unit in the three seasons prior to this one and had the best results on the team, statistically.

He was no word of a lie the worst PKer I have ever seen in the NHL in my life. The entire PK unit was awful and Kassian wasn't generally used against top units. I remember arguing about this with you where you suggested, because of the stats, that Nuge was a worse PKer than Kassian. I told you he was our best, and guess what with Tippet here and our PK being great Nuge is on it and Kassian isn't even an option. It was the same kind of thing with Benning. He's a mediocre PKer who's not sinking the unit but not ideal, you seemed to think they were terrified of him playing on it yet lo and behold with injuries they had no problems turning to him.

Stats don't tell the story on PKers, too many variables and not enough of a sample size. Watching for things like body and stick positioning, effective pressure and success in battles are a much better indication if you know what to look for. I genuinely appreciate arguments made with stats as they provide a factual basis but I really have to question what the stats say and their use here given the clearly incorrect suggestions the data makes. The Oilers fixed their broken PK and the guy the stats said was the worst is still on it and the guy they said was the best is off it. Doesn't that make you think perhaps the stats are flawed?

 

[Samus44]

He's not used now because there's about 6 players on the team that can only PK and nothing else.

When he was on it, he allowed goals against at the lowest rate.

So why are they overworking Nuge by keeping him on it? Certainly it makes no sense to even use him given the stats and the availability of other options.

 

[Samus44]

Hockey guys love toughness and truculence, he'll be movable. The worst case scenario probably involves the Oilers eating 1 million of his cap. He can skate and hit and is fine as a bottom 6 option. Lets be honest he's actually getting 2.2 for what he can do and an extra 1 million for being tough and a policeman who's occasionally batshit crazy. Not many viable enforcers in the NHL, guys like him have value for GM's apart from their offensive ability.

 

[McDNicks17]

He was no word of a lie the worst PKer I have ever seen in the NHL in my life. The entire PK unit was awful and Kassian wasn't generally used against top units. I remember arguing about this with you where you suggested, because of the stats, that Nuge was a worse PKer than Kassian. I told you he was our best, and guess what with Tippet here and our PK being great Nuge is on it and Kassian isn't even an option. It was the same kind of thing with Benning. He's a mediocre PKer who's not sinking the unit but not ideal, you seemed to think they were terrified of him playing on it yet lo and behold with injuries they had no problems turning to him.

Stats don't tell the story on PKers, too many variables and not enough of a sample size. Watching for things like body and stick positioning, effective pressure and success in battles are a much better indication if you know what to look for. I genuinely appreciate arguments made with stats as they provide a factual basis but I really have to question what the stats say and their use here given the clearly incorrect suggestions the data makes. The Oilers fixed their broken PK and the guy the stats said was the worst is still on it and the guy they said was the best is off it. Doesn't that make you think perhaps the stats are flawed?

We're talking about 300+ minutes over three seasons with the lowest chances and goals against.

If he's "the worst PKer you've ever seen", he must be the luckiest too.

 

[Samus44]

We're talking about 300+ minutes over three seasons with the lowest chances and goals against.

If he's "the worst PKer you've ever seen", he must be the luckiest too.

300 minutes isn't a large sample size given the high event nature of special teams and as i said all things weren't equal. He was also the "best" of a terrible bunch. Also you never addressed any of my points or questions, why not? I certainly tried to address yours. I wasn't the only guy who said he was awful in our intial debate either. You sure seemed to think Benning must be objectively bad given the coaches wouldn't use him on the PK earlier but now that they are you don't think that logic applies to Kassian which i find odd. There's a reason they won't use him and only one coach ever did, he sucks at it.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

I kept reading about his penalty kill prowess on here so I actually went to a second source:

NHL.com Stats

Turns out he doesn't penalty kill at all. Just plays 5 on 5 with McDavid as he also doesn't get PP time.

I thought he'd get 4 x 4... which is why I desperately wanted him traded because it's not a good deal for the Oil. He's going to be our highest paid bottom 6 player for quite awhile now. I definitely didn't say trade him for 'magic beans' or give him away. He had value as a rental.

Who said he was on the PK this year? It's been nice to see this team employ some cheap specialists for this role. Kassian has PK'd on atrocious Oiler teams in past year and could prospectively support this function in the future. Right now he's delivering quality top six production basically exclusively at even strength while delivering board work and sheriff support on the top line. A fifteen goal scorer last year and soon in this season he's added some goal scoring without PP time. The ability and flexibility to move up and down the roster is valuable on a team whose NHL depth is still threadbare. He'll move down as this team eventually finds quality top six wingers but will retain ability to move up on a situational basis.

Last thing I or many fans want is for another quality NHL player leave especially when they are in the thick of a playoff race. Wrong signal to the players and fanbase to cut bait with a player whose respected and valued by those that go into battle with him. And to a fanbase that's watched past management turn NHL assets like Petry, Cogliano and Schultz to name three into lottery tickets that yielded nothing. In playoffs when a heavy, endurance game becomes important, we've seen one run in which Kassian positively contributed beyond the scoresheet to Oiler success. Having a big, physical presence who can play is a valuable commodity one which has earned respect from McDavid and Draisaitl who know their back is covered.

 

[McDNicks17]

300 minutes isn't a large sample size given the high event nature of special teams and as i said all things weren't equal. He was also the "best" of a terrible bunch. Also you never addressed any of my points or questions, why not? I certainly tried to address yours. I wasn't the only guy who said he was awful in our intial debate either. You sure seemed to think Benning must be objectively bad given the coaches wouldn't use him on the PK earlier but now that they are you don't think that logic applies to Kassian which i find odd. There's a reason they won't use him and only one coach ever did, he sucks at it.

What other points are there to address? They're obviously using RNH because he's a center. It's going to be him or Drai when Sheahan isn't out there.

And I'm not even sure what you're referring to with Benning.

 

[LaGu]

Hey, for everyone hating on Kassian lately. Just a reminder that he was top 10 in the league in 5v5 goals scored from October to December.

I know I know, he's unpredictable, streaky, McDrai were bouncing pucks off of him etc etc. I think he played some pretty damn good and effective hockey this autumn, also into Jan to be honest. Hopefully he can get back to be that kind of contributor again once he's back from this.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Sorry, missed that.. you're right. But UFA's are the most expensive type of hockey players to get. Lucic and Neal come to mind. The key to building teams is through drafting and developing in a cap world.

I was happy trading him a month ago when his value was high. He was almost a cult hero after Tkachuk. A rental making 2 million a year that was going UFA could've got us something. Now we have Kassian in the pressbox for a very important stretch of games (playoff run, Connor is hurt).

Of course draft and development is the key to success in the Cap NHL. It's primarily why the Oilers have failed for over a decade. Their drafting outside of high lottery picks has been abysmal and has not contributed quality NHL players pretty much until Bear broke through. Compounding that issue they turned NHLers like Petry, Schultz, Purcell into deadline deals for draft picks that did not pan out. Thankfully Holland is smart enough not to not tinker with this core fighting for a playoff run and finding a reasonable contract conditions to keep a cornerstone player on their team versus peddled away. Like you point out, Holland did this without giving up an extreme overpay in price and kept the duration to four, not seven or eight which further make Lucic and Neal deals killer.

In a past post you compared Kassian and McLeod in terms of speed anticipating that McLeod would be quicker than Kassian next year. These are two different players in so many ways that such a comparison is irrelevant beginning with position. McLeod is lauded for his wheels but criticism and development need is to play and compete in the hard areas of the ice. He's having a modest first year pro in Bakersfield and likely 2, maybe 3 years from being an NHL player. Kassian made the jump right out of junior, drove his career into a ditch (literally) with addiction issues, and has made good on a third strike opportunity which is seeing him achieve career best numbers in goals each of the past two years (okay he's currently got 14 but I think he'll score 2 or more goals the rest of the way).

Holland and Tippett have preached continuity as key to change the systemic failure in this organization. They chose to view Kassian as part of the leadership mix to lurch this franchise forward this year and beyond. You talk of cult hero status through the Tkatchuk incident. Most telling was how Draisaitl, McDavid and his coach spoke about Kassian in that situation and in how they perceived his importance to this team. Spinning that player off in a deadline deal is the sort of loser move that kept this team horribad for over a decade.

 

[Czechboy]

He's not used now because there's about 6 players on the team that can only PK and nothing else.

When he was on it, he allowed goals against at the lowest rate.

You would think if he was good at it and on the 2nd unit that he'd go to the first unit as a promotion. Not removed entirely from it.

In either case. Kassian does NOT kill penalties. He's spend 1 minute on the penalty kill in 60 games this season. To be clear, not 1 minute per game... 1 minute total.

Kassian does not do powerplays either.

All he does is play 5 on 5 with McDavid.

I keep being told he's versatile. He's not. He has 2 options:

5 on 5 with McDavid and gets about .5ppg (same as guys like Chiasson and Maroon)
5 on 5 without McDavid and gets about 25 pts a season (the other 9 or so seasons in the NHL).

No special teams. That's it. That is Zack's versatility. Good on McDavid's wing and average everywhere else.

 

[Czechboy]

Who said he was on the PK this year? It's been nice to see this team employ some cheap specialists for this role. Kassian has PK'd on atrocious Oiler teams in past year and could prospectively support this function in the future. Right now he's delivering quality top six production basically exclusively at even strength while delivering board work and sheriff support on the top line. A fifteen goal scorer last year and soon in this season he's added some goal scoring without PP time. The ability and flexibility to move up and down the roster is valuable on a team whose NHL depth is still threadbare. He'll move down as this team eventually finds quality top six wingers but will retain ability to move up on a situational basis.

Last thing I or many fans want is for another quality NHL player leave especially when they are in the thick of a playoff race. Wrong signal to the players and fanbase to cut bait with a player whose respected and valued by those that go into battle with him. And to a fanbase that's watched past management turn NHL assets like Petry, Cogliano and Schultz to name three into lottery tickets that yielded nothing. In playoffs when a heavy, endurance game becomes important, we've seen one run in which Kassian positively contributed beyond the scoresheet to Oiler success. Having a big, physical presence who can play is a valuable commodity one which has earned respect from McDavid and Draisaitl who know their back is covered.

The 'everyone loves him' is a narrative. Have you ever heard a player come out and bash a teamate on the Oil?

You said he was a good PK guy. I just wanted to make it real clear. He doesn't PK at all anymore. So that isn't a strength or an asset anymore.

Versatility means he can do many things. He only does ONE thing... play 5 on 5. That's his versatility. Zack can play 5 on 5 in 2019/2020. Can't help on the powerplay. Can't help on the penalty kill. Doesn't take faceoffs. Doesn't play OT. Doesn't do shootouts.

Just 5 on 5.

With McDavid he does well (if he didn't get suspended all the time, he may have gotten 50 points), without McDavid he gets around 25 points (9 years of proof).

That's not versatile. That's 1 dimensional.

I've already said I didn't want magic beans for him. I'm not sure why you refereence awful trades as a counter to something I said? I said his value was high and we should've traded him (or packaged him) for an actual Top 6 forward that can help us.

Top 6 production is something Kassian has never delivered away from McDavid. I have 10 years of proof to show he can't get more than 25 points away from the best player in the game (in his prime).

Also, he's 30 next year and on the decline.

I feel like everyone that talks about his ilk and versatility are talking about face punching.

Also, you never answer my questions... Tell me about Zack's speed again... behind McDavid or ahead of Gagner? Where does he fit. Because I keep hearing about how fast he is. I would describe him as 'not slow and about 12th on the roster in terms of speed. Where do you have him?

 

[longtimeoilfan]

Still happy with the signing ... some people don't like Kassian or rough hockey -- their perogative, I guess. I enjoy rough hockey and understand the need for players like Kassian.

I prefer smash mouth hockey to the 'new nhl' we're seeing.

 

[Czechboy]

Of course draft and development is the key to success in the Cap NHL. It's primarily why the Oilers have failed for over a decade. Their drafting outside of high lottery picks has been abysmal and has not contributed quality NHL players pretty much until Bear broke through. Compounding that issue they turned NHLers like Petry, Schultz, Purcell into deadline deals for draft picks that did not pan out. Thankfully Holland is smart enough not to not tinker with this core fighting for a playoff run and finding a reasonable contract conditions to keep a cornerstone player on their team versus peddled away. Like you point out, Holland did this without giving up an extreme overpay in price and kept the duration to four, not seven or eight which further make Lucic and Neal deals killer.

In a past post you compared Kassian and McLeod in terms of speed anticipating that McLeod would be quicker than Kassian next year. These are two different players in so many ways that such a comparison is irrelevant beginning with position. McLeod is lauded for his wheels but criticism and development need is to play and compete in the hard areas of the ice. He's having a modest first year pro in Bakersfield and likely 2, maybe 3 years from being an NHL player. Kassian made the jump right out of junior, drove his career into a ditch (literally) with addiction issues, and has made good on a third strike opportunity which is seeing him achieve career best numbers in goals each of the past two years (okay he's currently got 14 but I think he'll score 2 or more goals the rest of the way).

Holland and Tippett have preached continuity as key to change the systemic failure in this organization. They chose to view Kassian as part of the leadership mix to lurch this franchise forward this year and beyond. You talk of cult hero status through the Tkatchuk incident. Most telling was how Draisaitl, McDavid and his coach spoke about Kassian in that situation and in how they perceived his importance to this team. Spinning that player off in a deadline deal is the sort of loser move that kept this team horribad for over a decade.

Zack is not a cornerstone to a Stanley Cup Championship team.

Where do you think he'd play on Tampa? Boston? The Leafs? The Flames? The Blues? The Avs?

He'd be a bottom 6 guy getting 12 minutes a night with about 25 points. His only versatility is that he can occasionally punch a face.

He didn't get better, he got on McDavid's line. Just like Chiasson, Ratty and Maroon before him.

McLeod was an example of many guys that are faster than him. McLeod projects to be a good bottom 6 player who is actually versatile. He will also be a better player in 2 years. Can you say the same about Zack in 2 years?

Bottom 6 players should be signed for shorter terms and cap hits. Kassian is not a core piece. He never will be. He's never led a team to the playoffs. He's barely scored in the playoffs. He's never been a core piece on another team. He's a bottom 6 guy who lucked out and got to play with McDavid. He can also punch a face, take stupid penalties and get himself suspended twice in the same month when the Oil needed him the most.

 

[Czechboy]

Still happy with the signing ... some people don't like Kassian or rough hockey -- their perogative, I guess. I enjoy rough hockey and understand the need for players like Kassian.

I prefer smash mouth hockey to the 'new nhl' we're seeing.

No fighting in the playoffs (or the Olympics). Name all the smashmouth guys that played key roles on the last few Stanley Cup Champions? There is a reason there aren't many Kassians around anymore.

 

[McDNicks17]

You would think if he was good at it and on the 2nd unit that he'd go to the first unit as a promotion. Not removed entirely from it.

In either case. Kassian does NOT kill penalties. He's spend 1 minute on the penalty kill in 60 games this season. To be clear, not 1 minute per game... 1 minute total.

Kassian does not do powerplays either.

All he does is play 5 on 5 with McDavid.

I keep being told he's versatile. He's not. He has 2 options:

5 on 5 with McDavid and gets about .5ppg (same as guys like Chiasson and Maroon)
5 on 5 without McDavid and gets about 25 pts a season (the other 9 or so seasons in the NHL).

No special teams. That's it. That is Zack's versatility. Good on McDavid's wing and average everywhere else.

Huh? So he's suddenly forgot how to PK going forward because he isn't doing it this year?

 

[Czechboy]

I was curious if they posted results for the fastest skater skills competition:

Zack was 5th out of 6 skaters. I know this is a charity event and all but he's almost a full second behind Nygard and McDavid. I do wonder how he'd fair against Klefbom, Nurse and Yamamoto? He is definitely 'not slow' but I wouldn't call him a burner either.

 

[Czechboy]

Huh? So he's suddenly forgot how to PK going forward because he isn't doing it this year?

Last season Zack was on the PK a little. The Oil's PK was awful:

29 out 31 and below 80%.

Zack was about 1 minute on that historically awful PK:

7th most used PK

This season our PK is very good... top 10, well above 80%

Zack doesn't PK at all.

He was never a good PK guy. He didn't stop doing it. He was replaced by guys who are good PK players.

 

[McDNicks17]

Last season Zack was on the PK a little. The Oil's PK was awful:

View attachment 321155

29 out 31 and below 80%.

Zack was about 1 minute on that historically awful PK:

View attachment 321157

7th most used PK

This season our PK is very good... top 10, well above 80%

View attachment 321159

Zack doesn't PK at all.

He was never a good PK guy. He didn't stop doing it. He was replaced by guys who are good PK players.

7th most minutes? Is he suppose to take PK minutes away from defensemen? lol

I honestly can't tell if you're trolling or just reaching incredibly hard.