Kassian’s role will be dictated by performance
GM says Canadiens felt new forward was worth taking a chance on
The question of character was front and centre as Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin discussed his decision to trade Brandon Prust for Zack Kassian.
Kassian is younger and bigger than Prust, but he developed a reputation as an inconsistent player during his past two seasons in Vancouver.
“I don’t know what you mean by character,” Bergevin said when he was asked about Kassian. “He’s a young guy who’s trying to find his way. He’s a young player who has upside. I had a conversation with him. Obviously, we did our homework and we feel that if he does reach his potential, we may have something here. Everything’s up to him.”
Bergevin said there’s a risk in any trade, but he felt it was worth taking a chance on the 24-year-old Kassian.
“He has a one-year contract (and) we save some money on the cap,” said Bergevin. “We feel he can provide some offence if he reaches his full potential. But I can’t do it, he has to do it and he has a chance to do it here.”
Kassian was drafted 13th overall by Buffalo in 2009 and this is the second time in his young career that he has been traded.
“You never want to be traded,” Kassian said from his summer cottage in Ontario’s Muskoka region. “But I’m excited to be coming to Montreal.”
Kassian addressed the consistency issue and said it was a question of maturity and health. He was limited to 43 games last season as he dealt with a broken finger and a back issue. He was playing on a top line with Daniel and Henrik Sedin when he suffered a broken finger, and his 10 goals look better when you consider that the only Canadiens player who averaged more goals per 60 minutes of ice time was Max Pacioretty.
Ideally, Kassian will fill the topsix right wing spot vacated by P.A. Parenteau, whose contract was bought out this week.
“He has the potential to be in that position,” said Bergevin, but he added that Kassian’s role would be dictated by his performance and the way coach Michel Therrien decided to use him.
Kassian said he was comfortable playing a gritty game, but that he also has the skills to play offence. When asked whether he expected to be in a top-six role, he said: “I don’t see it that way, I just want to do whatever I can to help the team win. If you look around the league, successful teams need four good lines.”
Bergevin thanked Prust for his three years of service to the team. Prust was the first free agent signed by Bergevin after he became general manager.
“He brought some character to our team and I want to wish him the best in Vancouver,” said Bergevin.
Prust’s departure means that the Canadiens lose their best fighter. He was involved in 16 of the team’s 27 fights last season, but Bergevin said the lack of a pugilist wasn’t a concern.
“Fighting is down; the game is changing,” said Bergevin, adding that “Zack has that in him.”
Perhaps, but Kassian had only one fight last season.
The Canadiens’ activity in the free agent market was limited to assembling players for their AHL farm team in St. John’s. Bergevin said he was always looking to make the team better but noted that “the worst deals are always the ones made on July 1.”
“You have a draft every year and you have to give these kids a chance,” said Bergevin. “There’s always room for young players to make a spot for themselves. There are three options to make your team better — trade, free agency or developing your young players — and every general manager will tell you the best way is to have your young players coming through.”
Bergevin said he hoped the team’s young players would help boost the Canadiens’ anemic offence. He said rookies Nikita Scherbak and Michael McCarron are coming off strong junior seasons and will get a good look at training camp as will AHL prospects like Charles Hudon and Daniel Carr.