Player Discussion Zack Kassian

[Bryanbryoil]

I don't know if it's all of the injuries that he's had or what the deal is, but he just doesn't seem interested in going out there and hammering players anymore. It drives me nuts watching guys like Kassian and Foegele going through the motions on their checks when they are both big guys. If you aren't scoring drive the f***ing net and hit guys ffs. Imagine this team if we had prime Mike Grier and Ethan Moreau instead of these two? Neither were big fighters but both would go out and wreck guys.

 

[Drivesaitl]

I don't know if it's all of the injuries that he's had or what the deal is, but he just doesn't seem interested in going out there and hammering players anymore. It drives me nuts watching guys like Kassian and Foegele going through the motions on their checks when they are both big guys. If you aren't scoring drive the f***ing net and hit guys ffs. Imagine this team if we had prime Mike Grier and Ethan Moreau instead of these two? Neither were big fighters but both would go out and wreck guys.

In fairness Kass as I've stated is running top 20 numbers in hits/60mins and those aren't little nudges. he is hammering people as well, and Kass is 31. Trouble with hitting that hard is it hurts you and the other playre. he's also had covid, had a flu last week and was barfing his biscuits, and the league takes a closer look at anything he does than anybody else.

But yet there he was on a third line, our best line last night, at least capable of supporting top talent, being able to play with skill players, and being able to cycle with them. you probably notice too that Nuge was walking tall last night. Moreso than typically seen, and part of the reason for that would be Kassian on ice. Lots of things wrong with this club but Kass is still enough of a player that its better to have him than not. The contract is another discussion.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

I don't know if it's all of the injuries that he's had or what the deal is, but he just doesn't seem interested in going out there and hammering players anymore. It drives me nuts watching guys like Kassian and Foegele going through the motions on their checks when they are both big guys. If you aren't scoring drive the f***ing net and hit guys ffs. Imagine this team if we had prime Mike Grier and Ethan Moreau instead of these two? Neither were big fighters but both would go out and wreck guys.

This is how Kassian has always been though, he's really no different from Raffi Torres. The occasional big hit and big goal but most games you'd forget he was even on the team.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

In fairness Kass as I've stated is running top 20 numbers in hits/60mins and those aren't little nudges. he is hammering people as well, and Kass is 31. Trouble with hitting that hard is it hurts you and the other playre. he's also had covid, had a flu last week and was barfing his biscuits, and the league takes a closer look at anything he does than anybody else.

But yet there he was on a third line, our best line last night, at least capable of supporting top talent, being able to play with skill players, and being able to cycle with them. you probably notice too that Nuge was walking tall last night. Moreso than typically seen, and part of the reason for that would be Kassian on ice. Lots of things wrong with this club but Kass is still enough of a player that its better to have him than not. The contract is another discussion.

Honestly I fell asleep after the start of the 2nd. Too tired to stay up and watch the replay in its entirety. Kass doesn't knock guys on their ass very much. Neither does Nurse for that matter. Lok at that run that Tkachuk took on Nurse. When was the last time that you've seen an Oiler try that?

 

[Bryanbryoil]

This is how Kassian has always been though, he's really no different from Raffi Torres. The occasional big hit and big goal but most games you'd forget he was even on the team.

Torres hit to hurt, not even remotely comparable in that regard.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Torres hit to hurt, not even remotely comparable in that regard.

Kassian's not exactly the cleanest player either, and usually when he shows up on the scoresheet it's because of a dumb penalty (see that nonsense in Montreal the other night that they immediately scored on).

 

[Drivesaitl]

Honestly I fell asleep after the start of the 2nd. Too tired to stay up and watch the replay in its entirety. Kass doesn't knock guys on their ass very much. Neither does Nurse for that matter. Lok at that run that Tkachuk took on Nurse. When was the last time that you've seen an Oiler try that?

Anygame Nemo played.

heh. Kass floored the Montreal goalie just last game and laid other guys out too. Hitting is happening, and I don't think Tkachuk is all that smart either. Nurse would have put him in the hospital if the Oilers weren't behind chasing the game. From my vantage looks like both the Tkachuks are idiots. Pick your spots. Why try punching a Grizzly. Doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

I mean I love hits, always have. I wish we had more hitters in the lineup.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Anygame Nemo played.

heh. Kass floored the Montreal goalie just last game and laid other guys out too. Hitting is happening, and I don't think Tkachuk is all that smart either. Nurse would have put him in the hospital if the Oilers weren't behind chasing the game. From my vantage looks like both the Tkachuks are idiots. Pick your spots. Why try punching a Grizzly. Doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

I mean I love hits, always have. I wish we had more hitters in the lineup.

Not mentioned in this was the PPG Montreal scored immediately following this penalty.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Torres hit to hurt, not even remotely comparable in that regard.

Torres hit primarily to dispossess opponents from the puck (very much like Grier) and Torres hit to make sure opponents won't even think about skating mid ice with the puck and not expect a toll. Torres owned the ice with that kind of play in what is pretty much a bloodsport.

Clearly I would have a Torres on a hockey team anytime. Its the most violent sport short of football. I'd rather have hammers than nails in a lineup.

In football nobody has much problem with players that don't mind hurting opponents. You win with those. No less than Gordie Howe tried to hurt people every game and wanted to. it got him all the open ice he needed. No comparisons of course, just saying we all know hockey is violent. Just that the NHL is very selective in who they ever go after.

I don't notice Wilson in Washington getting the disciplinary focus that Torres did. Torres was a better hockey player too.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Not mentioned in this was the PPG Montreal scored immediately following this penalty.

You mean like that even mattered as we were 5 goals up?

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

You mean like that even mattered as we were 5 goals up?

You think any lead is safe with this team? Imagine running over Washington's goalie tomorrow, Ovi will be more than happy to take his scoring title back.

 

[Drivesaitl]

This is how Kassian has always been though, he's really no different from Raffi Torres. The occasional big hit and big goal but most games you'd forget he was even on the team.

You mean like Raffi scoring 27 goals in 05-06 and being one of our most dynamic players in the playoffs? yeah I didn't forget about him often. Torres, Peca, Pisani all had huge playoffs that season.

 

[Drivesaitl]

You think any lead is safe with this team? Imagine running over Washington's goalie tomorrow, Ovi will be more than happy to take his scoring title back.

Do I think a 5 goal lead is safe against Montreal? Yeah I do. heh. This isn't Montreal of last season. This isn't even an NHL level club, the lineup that we were facing.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Do I think a 5 goal lead is safe against Montreal? Yeah I do. heh. This isn't Montreal of last season. This isn't even an NHL level club, the lineup that we were facing.

But we still have Koskinen and a pretty weak defense. I mean we nearly gassed a 6 goal lead to the Rangers a few years ago, and that was in a single period.

You mean like Raffi scoring 27 goals in 05-06 and being one of our most dynamic players in the playoffs? yeah I didn't forget about him often. Torres, Peca, Pisani all had huge playoffs that season.

Yes he was fantastic that year. What about the other years?

 

[Drivesaitl]

But we still have Koskinen and a pretty weak defense. I mean we nearly gassed a 6 goal lead to the Rangers a few years ago, and that was in a single period.


Yes he was fantastic that year. What about the other years?

Didn't live up to 5th pick billing but a lot of guys picked earlier through the years have been far worse. Torres had two 20 goal seasons here and a couple later that were on pace. Scored 137 goals in an abbreviated career. As I recall recurring knee injuries and the NHL safety watch put him out of business.

Torres was also useful on the Nucks SC run the season he was there, and had a good season and playoffs being an identity player on a pansy f***ing club.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Didn't live up to 5th pick billing but a lot of guys picked earlier through the years have been far worse. Torres had two 20 goal seasons here and a couple later that were on pace. Scored 137 goals in an abbreviated career. As I recall recurring knee injuries and the NHL safety watch put him out of business.

Torres was also useful on the Nucks SC run the season he was there, and had a good season and playoffs being an identity player on a pansy f***ing club.

Some by this very club.

But back on topic, toss Kassian in the bin. Absolute waste of 3.2m dollars.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Kassian signed his deal and promptly went into retirement. We see the old Kassian only once every 10 games or so.

 

[Stoneman89]

Honestly I fell asleep after the start of the 2nd. Too tired to stay up and watch the replay in its entirety. Kass doesn't knock guys on their ass very much. Neither does Nurse for that matter. Lok at that run that Tkachuk took on Nurse. When was the last time that you've seen an Oiler try that?

Exactly what I've been preaching. Why can't the Oilers instigate for once instead of always chasing guys around the ice trying the get EVEN? The very definition of a passive team.

 

[GOilers88]

Kassian's not exactly the cleanest player either, and usually when he shows up on the scoresheet it's because of a dumb penalty (see that nonsense in Montreal the other night that they immediately scored on).

Honestly in a blow out like that I'm okay with seeing our guys take liberties.

Been watching it go the other way for far too long. I know we shouldn't accept bad penalties, I just wasn't mad about it even though they did score.

The Habs looked like the Oilers on that one. Player gets run and nobody responds.

 

[Czechboy]

Honestly in a blow out like that I'm okay with seeing our guys take liberties.

Been watching it go the other way for far too long. I know we shouldn't accept bad penalties, I just wasn't mad about it even though they did score.

The Habs looked like the Oilers on that one. Player gets run and nobody responds.

In fairness.... some guy picked a fight with Kassian about an hour later. I still have no idea how Kass got bloodied. And I felt bad for the guy because he was the 6th thing Kass put in the net this season.. 5 pucks and this poor fella.

 

[jukon]

I wonder what the deal is with Kass, maybe he's having Klefbom type issues and can't really play the way he needs to anymore?

I mean he can't really be thinking that he is making a difference in any games these days right? Even if he did, the coaching staff should talk to him and tell him he needs to step it up. Scoring draught, I understand, but for a player like Kass you gotta at least try to hurt people.

 

[Rengorlex]

I wonder what the deal is with Kass, maybe he's having Klefbom type issues and can't really play the way he needs to anymore?

I mean he can't really be thinking that he is making a difference in any games these days right? Even if he did, the coaching staff should talk to him and tell him he needs to step it up. Scoring draught, I understand, but for a player like Kass you gotta at least try to hurt people.

He got his retirement money and has a family.

He's not going to put his body in the line anymore. I only blame Holland for an absolutely brutal extension signed at the worst possible time.

 

[jukon]

He got his retirement money and has a family.

He's not going to put his body in the line anymore. I only blame Holland for an absolutely brutal extension signed at the worst possible time.

It's hilarious because it seemed like they were pumping Kassian up, playing him with McDavid to boost his trade potential. Then they didn't deal him and signed him as if he could score without being strapped to Connor. Did Holland dupe himself? He's just a confused old man.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

It's hilarious because it seemed like they were pumping Kassian up, playing him with McDavid to boost his trade potential. Then they didn't deal him and signed him as if he could score without being strapped to Connor. Did Holland dupe himself? He's just a confused old man.

Yet another example of why it's dangerous to sign players based on small sample sizes.

 

[Rengorlex]

It's hilarious because it seemed like they were pumping Kassian up, playing him with McDavid to boost his trade potential. Then they didn't deal him and signed him as if he could score without being strapped to Connor. Did Holland dupe himself? He's just a confused old man.

Not only McD, he was playing on a line with McD AND Drai and went on a little shooting percentage blender.

What I hate about Holland is how he appears to ask for permission of McDrai before doing something and even brags about doing that. Think about how f***ed up that is that he calls Connor and asks "hey, do you want us to extend your good buddy Kassian"? Like WTF is Connor supposed to say, saying no means he'll cost his friend millions, why would he ever be asked to have that kind of responsibility lmfao. Our five million GM hiding behind his star players backs