It appears that Zack Kassian’s time in Montreal has come to an abrupt end.
Kassian was placed on waivers by the Habs this morning, and it has everything to do with off-ice conduct.
Stoll to MIN on waivers. Khudobin clears. MTL puts Kassian on waivers.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) December 15, 2015
Kassian was traded (along with a 5th round draft pick) to the Canadiens on July 1st of this year for Brandon Prust.
Kassian was involved in an early-morning car crash mere days before the season opener. The woman who was driving was reportedly drunk. Kassian entered stage two of the NHL’s Substance Abuse and Behavioural Health Program shortly after.
Presumably, that meant that Kassian had entered stage one of the program when he was a member of the Vancouver Canucks.
Today, Kassian was reinstated. He’ll enter the follow-up care stage of the program.
Zack Kassian has been reinstated by NHLPA and NHL. He's entered follow-up care stage of Substance Abuse and Behavioural Health Program
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) December 15, 2015
Shortly after, he was placed on waivers.
And before you start dreaming of the Canucks putting in a claim for him…
I would guess there is ZERO chance the #Canucks claim Kassian. If I could pick an option less than zero I would.
— Dan Murphy (@sportsnetmurph) December 15, 2015
Montreal GM Marc Bergevin appears to have viewed this as Kassian’s last chance. There is no denying Kassian’s great potential, but his off-ice issues may have driven him out of the league.
Every team in the league will have an opportunity to claim Kassian, though at this moment that seems unlikely.
Hopefully for Kassian’s sake, he can get his life, then his career, back on track.
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