Coach won’t let Kassian out of the bag
Bulky winger frustrated over ‘tough’ lineup call for game against Kings
Zack Kassian, normally among the most talkative of Vancouver Canucks, was a man of few words and short sentences Thursday morning after being told he would not dress against the Los Angeles Kings.
The 23- year- old rightwinger has finally recovered from a broken right pinky finger, which required surgery and has kept him out of head coach Willie Desjardins’ lineup since Nov. 25. He missed 13 games as an unhealthy scratch, but Thursday was his first absence since being cleared by the Canucks medical staff.
Needless to say Kassian was not happy sitting out, especially against a big-bodied team like the Kings.
“I want to play, but there is nothing you can do about it,” said Kassian, 6-foot-3 and 214 pounds. “You can sit here and whine all day — it’s not going to help. He obviously doesn’t see me fitting in right now, and that’s a coach’s decision. It’s definitely frustrating.”
Kassian insisted his finger has completely healed. He had two pins removed from it on Dec. 20, nearly two weeks ago. All told he has been out of the lineup for more than five weeks. He also missed five games in early November with a knee issue. In 17 appearances, he has scored twice.
“The finger is 100 per cent. It’s been 100 per cent for a little while,” Kassian said. “I prepare myself the way I have to do to play, but the team is playing well. When I get my chance, I’m not going to come out, I’ll tell you that.”
According to Desjardins, the decision to make Kassian a healthy scratch was based simply on the previous result in San Jose, a 3-1 victory over the Sharks. The Canucks were also 3-0-1 heading into Thursday’s date with the Kings.
“It’s hard sometimes,” Desjardins said. “You have tough lineup decisions. Zack has done everything he can and he’s worked really hard at everything we’ve asked of him. But that was a big game for us in San Jose and everybody played well. When you have guys who are playing well, sometimes you want to stay with it.”
JAKE EYES: Desjardins watched Wednesday’s world junior game between Canada and the U.S. and liked what he saw from top Canucks prospect Jake Virtanen, who collected one assist in the 5-3 Canadian victory. Virtanen, 18, was taken sixth overall by Canucks GM Jim Benning in last June’s NHL entry draft but missed both the prospects tournament in Penticton and the NHL pre-season while recovering from off-season shoulder surgery.
“Jake is a big, strong guy and I liked that he played physical but he can skate, too,” Desjardins said. “I thought he played really well. I’ve asked Jim about him a few times and Jim’s reports have come back pretty consistent. He is playing a little more physical than I thought he did. He can skate and he has a pretty well rounded game.”
After starting the world juniors as Canada’s fourthline right-winger, Virtanen has since been elevated to left wing on the second line with Connor McDavid and captain Curtis Lazar. He has a goal and two assists in Canada’s first four games.
QUOTABLE: “Jake is having a great tournament and so is (U.S. goalie) Thatcher Demko — he stood on his head in that game against Canada. I’m happy to see those guys do really well.” – Canucks rookie Bo Horvat, who is still young enough to play in the world juniors, on his possible future Canuck teammates. Demko was the Canucks’ second-round pick in 2014.