Player Discussion Zack Kassian

[Del Preston]

Excuse the badly broken neck and wrong handedness.

 

[zduck14]

I don't see Kassian have much success with those two. I was hoping to see him with at least one good playmaker.

I've been a big fan of Kassian since he was drafted and hated to see him leave the Canucks. I also think one of the biggest issues with Kassian in Vancouver was his linemates. Fans and management seemed to expect him to be a goal scorer and a grinder because of his size when, in reality, he was probably the third best passer on the team behind the Sedin's.

I think if he's got someone like Yakupov on his line that he can set up, then he will really succeed. He can and will fight anyone which gives Yak the protection to play a fairly wide open game and Kassian's speed was always very underrated. His size makes his speed very deceiving.

As much as I dislike the Oilers, I really hope Kassian turns things around and has success against everyone but Vancouver.

 

[MPStoEberletoHall*]

Excuse the badly broken neck and wrong handedness.

 

[dhawken]

I've been a big fan of Kassian since he was drafted and hated to see him leave the Canucks. I also think one of the biggest issues with Kassian in Vancouver was his linemates. Fans and management seemed to expect him to be a goal scorer and a grinder because of his size when, in reality, he was probably the third best passer on the team behind the Sedin's.

I think if he's got someone like Yakupov on his line that he can set up, then he will really succeed. He can and will fight anyone which gives Yak the protection to play a fairly wide open game and Kassian's speed was always very underrated. His size makes his speed very deceiving.

As much as I dislike the Oilers, I really hope Kassian turns things around and has success against everyone but Vancouver.

That's a pretty good first post IMO

 

[dhawken]

Excuse the badly broken neck and wrong handedness.

I'm sure anyone who can score on a breakaway while looking up at the camera can use either stick...

 

[CornKicker]

kassian > lander and krapikoski and stinkhammer

 

[Senor Catface]

44...that number has been good for us.

 

[SoftDumps]

44...that number has been good for us.

Another shot for ZK, another chance for those poor digits! I'm pulling for both parties to redeem themselves now, it's fantastic.

 

[Del Preston]

44...that number has been good for us.

Not as cursed as #15 though.

 

[Digger12]

kassian > lander and krapikoski and stinkhammer

"Stinkhammer" made me laugh far more than it should have.

Ugh, it's been a long time since this team made me feel optimistic.

 

[I am the Liquor]

44...that number has been good for us.

Beats 14.

 

[bone]

Not as cursed as #15 though.

True. 44s have been pretty good for us on the ice. Off ice however, , Oh crap, he's doomed.

Hopefully he follows the Niinimaa path rather than the recent 44s (Pronger, Schremp, Souray, Potter - injuring own players)

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Beats 14.

#14 is doing pretty good at the moment.

Better than #4.

 

[I am the Liquor]

#14 is doing pretty good at the moment.

Better than #4.

You probably have to be over 14 to get the joke.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

You probably have to be over 14 to get the joke.

Do I? Didn't Kevin Lowe wear #4?

 

[rboomercat90]

Not as cursed as #15 though.

I was thinking the same thing.

 

[zduck14]

Kassian was a huge Bertuzzi fan... Has to be where the number 44 comes from.

 

[McDrai]

Hall/Draisaitl/Purcell
Pouliot/RNH/Eberle
Kassian/Letestu/Yakupov

Top 9 looking a bit better

 

[harpoon]

To me this is as much a shot in the jaw to Teddy Purcell as rewarding Pakarinen.

Exactly. And Pouliot could use a punch in the face to motivate him a bit as well. Both of those guys are such floaters out there.

I understand that the board doesn't have big expectations of either of those players, but its been a bit ridiculous to see RNH, Eberle, (even Hall and Drai a bit) getting roasted while the double Ps get a total pass for their very lukewarm play.

I'm all for moving Pakarinen up the lineup for a few games. And if Kassian can show anything at all, I'd move him onto the line with RNH and let Pouliot see how he likes the third line for awhile.

 

[McLotto 97]

44...that number has been good for us.

Should have taken 89

 

[Arpeggio]

I hope Lander gets something going. If he finished the season like last year's, the Oilers might be able to win a few more games in regulation.

Excited to see Kassian, the less the current bottom six plays the better.

 

[McPuritania]

Kassian's jersey number worries me more than his substance abuse history.

 

[Gambl0r83*]

Kassian looks like Stifler.
What's that hockey movie again?

I think he will have a huge impact in the dressing room. The bottom 6 will take his lead and that could be the exact recipe we need right now

 

[Mr Positive]

Chia moves awfully fast doesn't he? He sends Nurse to the AHL, says that he may earn a call up some time before the end of the season,... and he's called up after about a week. Same for Draisaitl. He claims Kassian, and the rhetoric is all about him proving he can show all the right things on and off the ice, and I guess that only takes a couple of weeks.

I get that Chiarelli has not been handed a lot by the previous GMs we've had, but isn't rushing players the one major thing we've bashed Tambi/Lowe/MacT for?

At any rate, like with any player I will always cheer for him to do well. I think Kassian could be a great player for us long term. I hope he's ready to take on this challenge in the state he's in today.

 

[KCC]

I assume he's filling in for Hendricks for a few games and in the process PC will get a good look at him to see where he's at. Still think he was called up way too quickly, but I guess we'll see.

I hope he does well though because this is it for him if he can't eventually get back to his NHL level.

Hey, at least he didn't have to travel that far. haha