The Edmonton Oilers have signed Zack Kassian to a three year contract worth $5.85 million. Moving forward, the Oilers will pay Kassian an AAV of $1.95 million.
Zack Kassian has agreed to terms with EDM on a three-year deal worth a total of $5.85M.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 26, 2017
Edmonton Oilers Extend Zack Kassian’s Contract to Three Years
Kassian, a former Sabre and Canuck, will extend his stint with the Oilers for the next three seasons. The Windsor native is widely considered to be an enforcer, and has collected a solid 215 penalty minutes over two years in an Oilers jersey. In his first season with Edmonton, he played a mere 36 games while managing to obtain 114 PIM.
At 26 years of age, the winger still has fuel in the tank, tallying 24 points last season with Edmonton, scoring his first three postseason goals in the Oilers’ run to Game 7 of the Western Conference Second Round. His 24 points were the most since 2013-14, and he set a career high with 110 shots on goal.
Kassian began his NHL career with the Buffalo Sabres, whom he played 27 regular season games with. He was drafted 13th overall in the first round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Kassian’s transition from Buffalo to Vancouver was quick, when he was traded in February of 2012 in exchange for Cody Hodgson. Kassian played 171 games with Vancouver, as well as eight playoff games during their 2011-12 and 2013 campaigns. In July of 2015, Vancouver traded Kassian and a 5th round pick in the 2016 draft to the Montreal Canadiens for Brandon Prust.
Kassian was traded from the Montreal Canadiens to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Ben Scrivens the following December after he was involved in a car accident that broke his nose and foot.
This is the third standard contract that Kassian has signed in his career, and the one that is the most lucrative. His previous deals excluding his entry-level contract saw him get paid $1.75 million per season for two years and $1.5 million for last season. As a heavy right winger, extending Kassian was a standard move by Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli. Some have argued that Edmonton is overpaying to keep his grit and toughness in the lineup. While the news isn’t groundbreaking, many Oilers fans are happy to see him return next season.
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