The NHL Department of Player Safety announced that Edmonton Oilers winger Zack Kassian has been suspended for two games. This is his fourth career suspension.
Edmonton’s Zack Kassian has been suspended for two games under Rule 46.2 (Aggressor) for an altercation with Calgary’s Matthew Tkachuk. https://t.co/GNOVYmYAkh
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) January 14, 2020
Zack Kassian Suspended
Kassian has been suspended for two games and for an incident with Calgary Flames winger Matthew Tkachuk during the second period of Saturday Night’s game. Kassian retaliated after Tkachuk delivered a clean hit on him into the board. He then proceeded to drop the gloves and start sucker-punching the Flames forward. Kassian got two minor penalties for roughing and 10-minute misconduct on the play.
So far this season, he scored 13 goals and 15 assists for 28 points. He also added 64 minutes in penalties. His possession numbers were 49.3 percent Corsi and a relative Corsi of +2.8.
Over his nine-year NHL career, Kassian has played for the Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers. He has put up 80 goals and 91 assists for 171 career points in 510 career games. Buffalo originally drafted 13th overall of the 2009 NHL Draft.
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What This Means for the Future
Kassian is currently on pace for a career year with the Oilers this season and is currently fourth on the team with 30 points this season. He’s currently playing on the top line alongside Connor McDavid and James Neal. Kassian not only brings physicality to the Oilers line-up but also brings a scoring touch on the top line. It will be interesting to see how the Oilers perform without Kassian in the line-up.
With Kassian out of the line-up, Jujhar Khaira will draw into the line-up. Khaira has picked up six goals and two assists for eight points in 42 games this season. He also has 16 minutes in penalties.
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 10: Mikko Koskinen #19 and Zack Kassian #44 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrate defeating the Anaheim Ducks6-2 in a game at Honda Center on November 10, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
