Montreal Canadiens: Zack Kassian Earns PTO With Anaheim Ducks

Montreal Canadiens training camp is right around the corner and teams are gearing up for the 2023-24 season. The Habs roster appears set for camp after a few minor tweaks in the offseason.

We could see them move out another veteran or two like Casey DeSmith to free up a logjam in goal, but they were among the quietest teams in the league during free agency.

One former Canadiens player passed through town in the summer as Jeff Petry was acquired from the PIrrsburgh Penguins and then traded to the Detroit Red Wings.

Another former Canadiens player who has earned a chance with a new team is Zack Kassian. The well travelled winger did not stay in Montreal long, and actually never played a game for the Canadiens before being traded to the Edmonton Oilers.

Kassian was acquired from the Vancouver Canucks for Brandon Prust on the eve of the 2015-16 season, but was involved in a car accident in Montreal during training camp and would never play a game for the team. Instead, he was shipped out west for Ben Scrivens.

Kassian went on to play seven seasons for the Oilers, sometimes riding shotgun on the top line with Connor McDavid. His production would dip in later seasons and he was eventually traded to the Arizona Coyotes in July of 2022.

He played last season with the Coyotes, scoring just two goals and zero assists in 51 games. He also had 50 penalty minutes, including five for getting beat up by Arber Xhekaj.

Kassian drew the ire of Canadiens fans in his final season with the Oilers. He clipped goaltender Sam Montembeault behind the net when the Habs goalie was out to play the puck and vulnerable to Kassian who approached from behind and took down Montembeault with a slewfoot.

The Canadiens failed to deliver much, if any, payback at the time, but Xhekaj took matters into his own hands last season, even though he was playing Junior at the time.

Kassian has failed to find a contract for the upcoming season, but will get a chance to earn a role with the Anaheim Ducks. The 32 year old has signed a professional tryout (PTO) with the Ducks and will join them at training camp in the coming weeks.

With just two points last season, it seems unlikely Kassian will get a scoring role, or a top nine role at all. Perhaps he can show some toughness and earn a contract as a fourth line winger who hits, forechecks and drops the gloves when necessary.

Maybe he chose Anahiem because it is as far away as he can get from Xhekaj.

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