Oilers winger Zack Kassian has been offered an in-person hearing as a result of his kicking incident against Tampa Bay on Thursday night, the Department of Player Safety announced (Twitter link). This means that he could potentially be suspended for six or more games.
The incident occurred late in the first period with Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak. The two fell to the ice after Edmonton winger collided with the both of them. After all three were tangled up on the ice for a few seconds, Kassian kicked Cernak as the latter was trying to get up. No penalty was called on the play. The video of the incident can be found here.
Speaking with reporters postgame including Sportsnet’s Mark Spector, Kassian tried to downplay the incident:
It felt like we were there a lifetime. We were down there for a while. He was holding my leg, it was reactionary. I was just trying to get him off me, kick him off me. I was just trying to get my foot loose.
If I kicked him hard, I think he would have flew back or the ref would have called a penalty.
What will certainly work against Kassian here is that he received a two-game suspension just one month ago for instigating a fight against an unwilling combatant in Calgary’s Matthew Tkachuk. To be in the crosshairs of the league once again that quickly won’t help his cause. Kassian has the right to decline to take up the offer for an in-person hearing and he has exercised that right. Instead, his hearing will be conducted by phone this afternoon but even with that happening, the league still can suspend him for more than the five games that a phone hearing allows.
TSN’s Bob McKenzie was the first to report that Kassian would be offered an in-person hearing.
at this rate he’ll be suspened for a year within a few months
Kassian is a meat head. A thug with very little skill. It shows how lacking of skill Edmonton has when this skating slug is on the top line with McDavid.
I don’t think that’s accurate at all. He makes some dumb decisions but he’s got soft hands when he wants to use them. Look at Edmonton’s last playoff run he showed his skill. It’s too bad he doesn’t bring it more often. Given his first round selection also reinforces he had talent as teams don’t typically burn a first round pick on an enforcer.
while I understand your argument, in their playoff appearance a few years back he had more than twice as many pim than games played, and 3 points in 13 games.
he has some skill but certainly not nearly enough for someone who was drafted in the 1st round or who should play on the first line
There are plenty 1st round picks who end up sucking. Kassian is one of them. His “soft hands” don’t seem to result in scoring. Maybe he should try hand modeling.
14g is skilless? Im sorry, but he has more goals than “sniper” Phil Kessel. The guy has poor judgement, but being a skilless thug is incorrect.
I suspect 7-10 games for this stupid play. Its not like he is attempting to injure Cernak, but he clearly using poor judgement in using a kicking motion in an attempt to free himself from the guys being tied up. Clearly Cernak is attempting to keep 2 opposing players tied up as long as possible to keep his team at an advantage and Kassian is trying to free himself as quickly as possible to get back into play.
based on other similar skate suspensions, this looks like it’s in the realm of 10-12. don’t see it as Chris Simon level but certainly not a slap on the wrist.
So much talk about the “code of hockey” when he complained Tkachuk wouldn’t drop the gloves with him. Maybe he should quote quote the code during his hearing regarding this since he apparently abides by it
@Vin Scully – some of us here disagree with your label of Kassian. That was the old Kassian, who would do stuff like that multiple times per game several years ago. He has turned his life around, but, that said, plays close to, and sometimes, over the edge at times. Mark Spector has an accurate tag for Kassian: “sometimes his wires touch.” Jeff Skinner, back in 2012, did something very similar and was only given two games. Unfortunately, DPS has changed over, and has proven this year to botch the crap out of discipline. “Big Z” getting only a fine for cross-checking Gallagher in the throat? They are all but guaranteed to screw this one up, too.
Yeah I’m guessing they go overboard Given the fact he was just in their office not to long ago…