Well, look who’s back in the mix. According to a tweet from Jim Matheson, former Oiler Zack Kassian is back with the organization, but this time, he’s picking up a clipboard as a pro scout based in Ontario.

During his seven seasons in Edmonton, Zack Kassian became a fan favourite for his ability to throw hits, drop the mitts, and chip in a few goals from time to time. In 412 games played with the Oilers, Kassian registered 55 goals and 61 assists for 116 points to go along with the 635 PIMs while averaging 13:02 in TOI. No matter the moment or game, we could always count on Kassian to mix it up, and that kind of physicality was something the team relied on.

Of course, my favourite chunk of his career in Edmonton came during the 2017 playoff run when Kassian went full beast mode and caused havoc basically every time he was on the ice. The man was everywhere. Whether he was throwing big hits, scoring clutch goals, or living rent free in San Jose’s heads, Kass was an absolute wrecking ball, and those moments were what a lot of us pointed to as the peak of his time here.

When Zack Kassian got dealt from the Oilers, it felt like the end of an era even though it was definitely time for a change. Love him or hate him, Kassian gave us some fantastic moments during his time in Edmonton. He was that guy who brought the grit, the energy, and some chaos to the lineup, and when he was playing at his best, he could be a  game changer in more than one way. But by the time the Oilers moved him in 2022 to the Arizona Coyotes, it was clear that the team was shifting in a different direction, needed cap space, and that they no longer had the space for Kassian on the roster.

In this latest chapter of his career, however, instead of intimidating opponents on the ice, Kassian will be hunting for talent as a pro scout in Ontario. In that role, Kassian will be looking to bolster the team’s depth chart and finally give the Oilers some eyeballs in Canada’s biggest junior pool. Given that Edmonton went years without having pro scouts in Ontario, the bar Kassian has to clear is pretty low and ultimately sets the table for his success. Either way, it’ll be interesting to see how his experience as a player translates into this new role as a scout, and given the urgent need for skilled players in the organization, I’m all for having Kass jump aboard for an extra set of eyeballs.

Welcome back, Kass. Let’s see what you can do from the other side of the glass.