October 28, 2023 by Bob Schmidt

On October 26, Zack Kassian announced his retirement from the NHL after a career spanning 12 seasons, 661 regular season games, and 45 playoff games.

The Windsor, Ontario, native made his major junior debut with the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in the 2007-08 season. He quickly established himself as a premier power forward with an impressive combination of skill and toughness. In his four season OHL career split between the Petes and the Windsor Spitfires, Kassian played in the Subway Super Series, OHL All-Star game, and the CHL Top Prospects game, the latter in which he injured John Tavares with a devastating body check. In 2010, the Spitfires won the Memorial Cup with Kassian contributing a goal and an assist in the championship game. 

Unfortunately, some of the disciplinary issues that would plague the power forward throughout his career, started to become evident during his junior career. Kassian served three suspensions during his time in the OHL and was also involved in a confrontation at a bar in Windsor that had to be handled through the legal system. He was also a member of the 2011 silver medal Team Canada World Junior squad, a tournament in which he received a two game suspension for a questionable hit.

In 2009, the Buffalo Sabres selected Kassian in the first round, thirteenth overall, at the NHL Entry Draft. Wearing number 54, Kassian made his NHL debut with the Sabres in the 2011-12 season. In a move that surprised many, the Sabres dealt the young power forward to the Vancouver Canucks after only 27 games. In his first full season with the Canucks, the then 23 year old reached double digit goals for the first time with 14 and also set what would become a career high 124 penalty minutes. The 6’1″ and 211-pound winger soon realized that his greatest attribute for success on the NHL level was to put emphasis on his physical game and quickly became known as a willing pugilist. 

In the summer of 2015, Kassian was traded to the Montrel Canadiens. However, before even suiting up for his first game as a Canadien, Kassian was involved in a car accident in which he suffered a broken nose and a fractured foot. Only hours after having completed a substance abuse program, and amidst grumblings that he had become a distraction and displayed behavioural issues in his short time with the organization, the Canadiens put Kassian on waivers.

On December 28, 2015, the Montreal Canadiens traded Kassian to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Ben Scrivens. It was with the Oilers that Kassian experienced his most successful seasons as an NHL player. He recorded two seasons of fifteen goals (2018-19, 2019,20) and finished the 2019-20 season with 34 points, all of which were career season highs. In his seven seasons with Edmonton, the popular winger helped the Oilers into the playoffs four times and reach the Conference Final in 2022. 

He established himself as a fan favourite with his physical play and good humour. Kassian has repeatedly mentioned that his time in Edmonton was life changing. He became more focused on his mental health and being active in the community. The on ice discretions still popped up occasionally as he served two more suspensions while with the Oilers, including a very memorable one to us Oiler fans that came at the expense of Matthew Tkachuk of the Calgary Flames. Kassian played seven seasons with the Oilers, accumulating 135 points in 412 regular season games and another nine points in 37 playoff games.  

Kassian played his last 51 games of his NHL career with the Arizona Coyotes in the 2022-23 season. As relayed by Tony Brar of OilersTV (@TonyBrarOTV), when Nick Bjugstad was traded to the Oilers from the Coyotes in March of 2023, Bjugstad had asked the ex-Oiler what he should expect for it to be like there for the upcoming playoff run. Kassian responded with “There’s nothing like it.”

Nick Bjugstad: “Zack Kassian said there’s nothing like it” when it comes to Edmonton in the playoffs. #Oilers

— Tony Brar (@TonyBrarOTV) March 2, 2023

The Anaheim Ducks invited Kassian to their 2023 training camp on a professional tryout offer, and they released him on October 8.

As an Oiler fan, I’m very thankful for the memories I have of him as a member of my beloved team. He left an impression on the ice with many momentum changing hits and keeping our stars safe, and off the ice with his generous involvement throughout the community and his ever willing engagement with the fans.

Thanks Zack and congratulations. Happy retirement.