According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Edmonton Oilers have given Zack Kassian permission to “seek a trade” and try to find a fresh start elsewhere. Kassian signed a three-year contract extension that carried a $1.95 million AAV in the offseason leading up to the 2017-18 season.

How about this for some breaking news after today’s big win against the Nashville Predators? During a panel segment Elliotte Friedman, a source I would definitely list as trustworthy, mentioned a potential roster move coming and that the Oilers have granted permission to Zack Kassian to find a new home. Friedman didn’t specify why Kassian wanted out or what the Oilers might be willing to accept in exchange for him, but it’s definitely a bit of unexpected news for a Saturday night.

Like many people that read this website and comment on the articles, I’ve wanted and expected a lot more out of Kassian and it’s been frustrating to watch him not play up to his abilities. He doesn’t seem engaged and doesn’t come within a $5 cab ride of being the dominant force that we saw in the playoffs against the San Jose Sharks. Even today, the penalty he took at the end of the game was easily avoidable and came at a time when the Oilers were trying to defend a lead. Maybe this yearning for a fresh start is weighing on him? Maybe? We’ll have to wait and see.

Kassian arrived in Edmonton in the trade sent Ben Scrivens over to Montreal in exchange for the winger that desperately needed a fresh start, both in hockey and life. Since coming over, Kass has pulled off one of the most incredible PR moves in Oilers history as he turned himself into a hero after spending many years as a villain around these parts. The story was great and in that way, it’s a bummer to see that he wants to bail, but you never know what’s going on in a guy’s mind or personal life so we’ll just have to sit back and wait to see how this thing plays out.

In 194 games with the Oilers, Kassian has scored 17 goals and 34 assists for 51 points while adding another three goals in 13 playoff games in 2016-17. He’s signed for another year after this one with a cap hit of $1.95 million per season.

Source: Elliotte Friedman, Sportsnet, 10/27/2018