The NHL Department of Player Safety announced that Edmonton Oilers forward Zack Kassian has been suspended for seven games. This is his fifth career suspension and second this season.
Edmonton’s Zack Kassian has been suspended for seven games for Kicking Tampa Bay’s Erik Cernak. https://t.co/8pSlqHoL7q
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) February 15, 2020
Zack Kassian Suspended
Kassian has been suspended for seven games for an incident with Erik Cernak of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Kassian, Cernak and Josh Archibald were all tangled up in a pile when Kassian got his leg free and kicked Cernak in the chest.
It was a highly dangerous incident, but not much of a fuss was raised on the ice. Cernak moved on quickly and an on-ice official did not call a penalty. It was still a highly dangerous incident.
So far this season, he scored 14 goals and 16 assists for 30 points in 52 games. He also added 69 minutes in penalties. His possession numbers are 49.5 percent Corsi and a relative Corsi of 2.1.
Over his nine-year NHL career, the 29-year-old has played for the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers. He has put up 81 goals and 92 assists for 173 career points in 518 career games. The Buffalo Sabres originally drafted him in the first round, 13th overall of the 2009 NHL Draft.
Kassian waived his right to an in-person hearing. He was suspended two games after an incident with the Calgary Flames Matthew Tkachuk. Kassian said that he needed to be smarter so he could play in the big games.
What This Means for the Future
The Oilers are already missing the services of Connor McDavid, who is out for another week or two. Kassian has profited by being on the ice with McDavid and was rewarded with a contract extension.
Edmonton sits in a three-way tie for second place on points in the Pacific Division with the Flames and the Vegas Golden Knights. The Oilers hold the second spot due to number of games played.
