No idea what Kassian's personal life was like? No, but we know he was in stage 1, was apparently on the market for a while, didn't return much, got in a bad situation soon after being dealt, and cleared waivers. We can infer some things from these events.
I wouldn't say "did a favour." More, what's best for both sides.
If there were other offers on the table, why no rumours? I mean factor in the return + time Kassian was on the market and there's at least circumstantial evidence.
I never said they didn't want Prust, I said he wasn't necessarily targeted. But "target" is ambiguous, maybe you can define what you mean. When I read target, I think you mean they had Prust on a short list of players they would accept in return for Kassian. That there were other options on the table, but Benning preferred to hold out until he could pry Prust from Montreal. In other words, if Prust wasn't part of the deal, Benning would have just held on to Kassian. I'd say there's zero evidence to support that position.
The way I feel it went down, after offering Kassian around the league for a while with no takers, Montreal expressed a willingness to take a chance on Zack. But it would have to be a buy low deal. That's when Prust became a target because he filled a role Benning identified as a need. You make it sound like Benning wouldn't deal Kassian unless the return was Prust, I see it as Benning was willing to take Prust because he at least filled a role they wanted to fill.
If you have any evidence Benning chose Prust over other potential deals, I'd like to see it. All evidence I'm aware of suggests Kassian was viewed as a toxic asset around the league. Prust filled an identified need but wasn't a piece they held on to Kassian until they could pry out of Montreal.
