Zack Kassian

Zack Adam Kassian (born January 24, 1991) is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger who is currently playing for HC Sparta Praha in the Czech Extraliga.

After a season of AAA midget with the Windsor Jr. Spitfires, Kassian debuted at the major junior level with the Peterborough Petes in 2007–08.

Playing in his first career OHL game, he recorded two assists against the Sudbury Wolves on September 20, 2007.

He scored his first OHL goal the following month against the Erie Otters on October 11.

He went on to score 9 goals and 21 points over 58 games as a rookie.

The following season, he improved to 24 goals and 63 points over 61 games.

He also had a team-leading 136 penalty minutes and earned a reputation as a willing fighter with 13 fighting majors.

That season, he was chosen to play in three All-Star exhibitions.

Near the beginning of the campaign, he represented Team OHL in two games against a select team of Russian juniors, as part of the annual Subway Super Series.

Kassian later dressed for the Eastern Conference in the OHL All-Star Classic and scored a goal and an assist.

Selected 13th overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, he began his career within the Buffalo Sabres organization before being traded to the Vancouver Canucks in 2012.

Lastly, he competed in the 2009 CHL Top Prospects Game for Team Cherry, a contest in which he injured John Tavares with a hit.

Leading up to the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Kassian was ranked 10th among eligible prospects playing in North America (not including goaltenders) by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau (CSB).

Chris Edwards of the CSB heralded him as "one of the toughest guys in the OHL and probably the entire draft", while also highlighting his "play-making and puck-handling abilities".

Scouted as a power forward, he was compared to such players as Milan Lucic, as well as retired NHL All-Stars Cam Neely and Keith Tkachuk.

Kassian went on to attend his first NHL training camp in September 2009 and was returned to Peterborough to continue at the junior level.

Back with the Petes, Kassian was chosen to replace the departed Zach Harnden as team captain after Harnden starting playing with the Kingston Frontenacs.

Thirty-three games into his 2009–10 OHL season, Kassian was traded to the Windsor Spitfires.

Prior to the trade, Kassian had been suspended one game by his team for breaking curfew.

During his junior career, he won a Memorial Cup with the Windsor Spitfires in 2010.

Shortly after joining Windsor, he was given a 20-game suspension from the league for his hit to the head of Barrie Colts forward Matt Kennedy during a game in January 2010.

Limited to 38 games between Peterborough and Windsor due to the ban, Kassian totalled 12 goals and 31 points.

Returning from the suspension in time for the 2010 playoffs, he added 7 goals and 16 points over 19 games to help Windsor to a J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL champions.

The win qualified Windsor for the 2010 Memorial Cup, Canada's national major junior championship, which they won as well.

Defeating the Brandon Wheat Kings in the final 9–1, Kassian had a goal and an assist in the championship-winning game.

Following the Memorial Cup win, Kassian was arrested after an altercation at a bar in Downtown Windsor on May 30, 2010.

Charged with assault, he reached an agreement several months later, in October 2010.

The charge was dropped in exchange for 25 hours of community service, a $500 donation to charity and payment for the victim's dental work.

Internationally, he competed with Canada's under-20 team at the 2011 World Junior Championships and won a silver medal.

Listed at 6ft 3in and 211 lb, Kassian played in the style of a power forward and was known for playing with aggression and physicality.

Kassian was born in Windsor, Ontario, to parents Mike and Shirley Kassian.

Though often mistaken for having Armenian heritage, Kassian is not of Armenian descent.

He has two older sisters and an older brother, Mike Jr. When he was eight, his father died of a heart attack.

Kassian has recalled his father's role as having been filled by Mike Jr., who was nineteen at the time, while he grew up.

He grew up attending Queen of Peace elementary school in Leamington, Ontario and first began playing organized hockey at the age of eight with the Kingsville Kings.

Growing up, he was a Toronto Maple Leafs fan, though he has listed his favourite players as Boston Bruins defenceman Bobby Orr and Todd Bertuzzi, a fellow power forward who was starring with the Vancouver Canucks during Kassian's youth.

Kassian went on to be selected in the first round, 13th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the draft.

He played parts of four seasons with the Canucks before they traded him to the Montreal Canadiens in 2015.

Kassian never played for the Canadiens, however, as he was suspended for substance abuse issues, and was traded to the Edmonton Oilers several months later.

After seven seasons in Edmonton, Kassian was traded to the Arizona Coyotes, spending one season there before retiring during the 2023–24 NHL season.