Is Zack Kassian a Fit for the Toronto Maple Leafs?

Is Zack Kassian a Fit for the Toronto Maple Leafs?

The rough and tough winger could bring a missing element to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Tuesday morning, NHL Insider Chris Johnston announced that the Arizona Coyotes had placed Zack Kassian on unconditional waivers as they intend to buy out the final year of his four-year deal that has a cap hit of $3.2 Million.

Kassian signed the four-year deal with the Edmonton Oilers shortly after Ken Holland took over as general manager.  Fast forward two seasons into Kassian’s new contract came onto the books and Holland packaged him along with a second and third round pick, as well as moving down three positions in the first round for the Oilers to get out from under his deal.

Zack Kassian and the Toronto Maple Leafs

The question now is whether or not the Toronto Maple Leafs should bring an Ontario kid home as a reclamation project.

Kassian was once a first-round pick of the Buffalo Sabres back in 2009, but after some off-ice issues he found himself bouncing around the league, including jumping from the Vancouver Canucks, Montreal Canadiens and Edmonton Oilers in a matter of six months.

The power forward turned into a lesser version of Tom Wilson during his times in Edmonton as he was able to collect back-to-back 15-goal seasons as well as being a menace on the ice.

Unfortunately for the 32-year old Kassian, he collected just two points in 51 games last season with the Coyotes and will now find himself as a free agent. (stats hockeydb.com). 

With the now likelihood that Wayne Simmonds is retiring, Kassian could fit that 13th forward role on the Maple Leafs.

Kassian is no longer the middle six forward, but he would be a protector for the likes of the superstars on the team and he may have a little more talent than what Simmonds had last year.

What Brad Treliving could offer the former Memorial Cup champion is a one-way league minimum contract that would see him guaranteed to make $775,000 whether he makes the Toronto Maple Leafs or needs to be sent to the Toronto Marlies.

The downfall of bringing in Kassian is he has had quite the decline over the last few seasons as power forwards tend to do once they hit the wrong side of 30.  He has not played 60 games in a season since 2019-20 and he combined for just ten goals over the last three seasons.

It is unlikely that Treliving attempts to sign Kassian due to his decline, however it has the potential to be a decent depth addition.