Although Zack Kassian has appeared in only 21 games as a Canuck, he is one of the most important players on the roster as we look to the future. He is the top prospect on the club (according to the Canucks Army writers). He is one of the best prospects in hockey according to a number of scouts, and he brings many attributes to the ice that the Canucks have lacked in recent years – physicality, size, and intimidation.

Kassian has put in serious work this summer to get in terrific shape. He put in work with top trainers at the Nike Headquarters in Oregon back in July along with a few other prospects, including Kevin Connauton and Jordan Schroeder. Kassian trained and spent some time with the Sedin twins and Manny Malhotra in April and May of 2012, as well.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Kassian has trimmed about 15 pounds off of his frame this summer. Fear not, though, as he still tips the scales at close to 215 pounds (regardless of what he is listed at on various sites, Kassian played at close to 230 pounds last year).

He started off great with the Canucks after the trade from Buffalo, but his level of play faded down the stretch, as he struggled to keep up with the pace that the team operates at.

Kassian training at the Nike Headquarters:

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

I worked on an extensive profile of Kassian earlier this summer, analyzing his career through junior hockey and the Buffalo organization before coming over to Vancouver. His story is quite an interesting one, and I’d recommend reading the piece (shameless plug). Even at a young age he was preparing for the NHL, something his mother recognized.

Kassian has had the mindset of a pro from day one. “[Zack] told me he was going to be at the [NHL] draft, and he was going to put on his jersey, and he was going to stand there and thank all of his coaches. He was driven by the love of the game. You even saw it in how he ate. How many 12-year-olds would look at you when you give them something and say, ‘I can’t eat, that mom. I have to eat healthy.’”

He spent the first few years of his OHL career in Peterborough, and the Petes assistant GM got to see a lot of him during that time.

“I got to see Lucic play as a junior. Zack may have been more powerful physically. I think it’s a pretty fair comparison. There both big, there both physical. They also have offensive tools.”

I won’t repost my entire column, but the point of it was this – Kassian has overcome a lot of adversity in his life, and because of that he is prepared to face the ups and downs of being the top prospect in a hockey-crazed market like Vancouver.

Back in 2009 leading up to his draft selection, Kassian offered these thoughts to the media:

“I think some guys get mad because they’re not playing here, they’re not playing there, and they want to get traded. I don’t think they realize that’s really nothing. Your family is what’s important. When something like [the death of a father] happens it’s always a tragedy. But I think it made me stronger to make it to the NHL and make them proud.”

Kassian’s comments are interesting to look back on, as they touch on issues the Canucks faced with Cody Hodgson (demands of more ice time, and eventually a trade out of Vancouver). The two will forever be linked, and it will be interesting to see how their careers go from here. Hodgson, right now, is penciled in as Buffalo’s second line center, a role he may not be ready for. Kassian could play anywhere from line two with Booth and Kesler, to line four with Malhotra and Weise (or another depth forward).

The Canucks are in a position where they don’t need to rush him, so don’t expect him to be playing significant minutes unless he proves he is ready for it.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

In researching the Kassian piece, I spoke with a lot of people who have followed his career through Windsor, Buffalo, and Rochester. The range of opinions was wide (to say the least), but there was common thought throughout each conversation – if Kassian can be brought up with strong leaders around him, the sky is the limit. And that should be really exciting news, as you aren’t going to find better leaders – on or off of the ice – than the Sedin twins or Malhotra.

Kassian may not be the next Todd Bertuzzi, and he may not be the next Milan Lucic, either. But his rookie statistics, extrapolated over a full 82-game season, compare pretty favorably to Lucic’s rookie numbers.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below SEASON TEAM GP G A PTS +/- PIM SOG TOI/G 11-’12 VAN/BUF 44 4 6 10 -2 51 54 10:52 11-’12 Projected 82 7 11 18 -2 94 100 10:52

SEASON TEAM GP G A PTS +/- PIM SOG TOI/G 07-’08 BOS 77 8 19 27 -2 89 88 12:09 07-’08 Projected 82 9 20 29 -2 94 94 12:09

In terms of finding an exact player comparison, Kassian is more of a Blake Wheeler than a Lucic. He doesn’t have all of Wheeler’s offensive abilities, but he is tougher and more physical. Why I like the Wheeler comparison – both players are dominant along the boards and behind the net, and both have great hands and terrific vision for big wingers. It took Wheeler a long time to find his place in the league (which he has now done as arguably Winnipeg’s best offensive forward), and Kassian won’t be a 20-to-30 goal scorer right away, either. It is going to take some time.

His hands and offensive ability on display:

Although Vancouver didn’t draft Kassian (they scouted him heavily back in 2009, however), no player better exemplifies the recent focus that the club has placed on on size and strength with drafting and player development . Kassian was one of a handful of young players around the league they targeted when shopping Hodgson. He may not be as productive offensively as Hodgson for a few seasons. And he may not be as physically intimidating as Lucic was as a second year NHLer. However, Kassian is on the right track and the Canucks are making sure he stays there.

OTHER PROSPECT PROFILES IN THIS SERIES:





