Matt Kassian

Canadian ice hockey player (born 1986)

Ice hockey player

Matt Kassian

With the Senators during the 2013 playoffs.

Born|  (1986-10-28) October 28, 1986 (age 37)
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Height|  6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight|  232 lb (105 kg; 16 st 8 lb)
Position|  Left wing
Shot|  Left
Played for|  Minnesota Wild
Ottawa Senators
NHL draft|  57th overall, 2005
Minnesota Wild
Playing career|  2007-2014

Matt Kassian (born October 28, 1986) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who has played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Minnesota Wild and the Ottawa Senators.

## Playing career

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Kassian made his NHL debut during the 2010-11 season after originally being selected in the second round, 57th overall, by Minnesota in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.[1] His junior hockey career was spent with the Vancouver Giants of the WHL.

On November 3, 2010, the Minnesota Wild recalled Kassian from the American Hockey League's Houston Aeros.[2] During the month of November 2010 Kassian played four games for the Wild, collecting 12 minutes in penalties and no points, with only a single shot on goal. He was then assigned back to the Aeros in December. He was re-called from the Aeros in mid-January.[3] He recorded his first NHL goal on March 1, 2012 in the first period of a game against the Montreal Canadiens. He scored his second NHL goal in the third period of that same game.[4]

On March 12, 2013, Kassian was traded from the Wild to the Ottawa Senators for a sixth round draft pick in 2014.[5] He spent the remainder of the 2012-13 season and all of the 2013-14 season with the Senators, appearing in a total of 48 games, serving primarily as an enforcer. Following the 2013-14 season, Kassian was not re-signed by Ottawa. "I wanted to be back and they felt otherwise. That's their right as an organization," he said.[6]

In September 2014, Kassian was invited to Arizona Coyotes' training camp but was ultimately not offered a contract.[7] He was invited to attend AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates training camp, and appeared in 2 games in the 2014-15 season with the club before ending his professional career and enrolling in business school.[8]

He is of no relation to fellow professional forward Zack Kassian.[9]

## Career statistics

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|  | Regular season |  | Playoffs

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Season | Team  | League  | GP  | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP  | G  | A  | Pts  | PIM
2002–03  | Sherwood Park Crusaders AAA  | AMHL | 33  | 5  | 7  | 12  | 38  | 15  | 7  | 3  | 10  |
2003–04 | Vancouver Giants | WHL | 37  | 1  | 0  | 1  | 42  | 3  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 4
2004–05 | Vancouver Giants  | WHL  | 41  | 0  | 3  | 3  | 89  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
2004–05  | Kamloops Blazers | WHL  | 28  | 3  | 0  | 3  | 83  | 6  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 14
2005–06 | Kamloops Blazers  | WHL  | 67  | 5  | 6  | 11  | 147  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
2006–07 | Kamloops Blazers  | WHL  | 72  | 8  | 10  | 18  | 162  | 4  | 0  | 1  | 1  | 0
2007–08 | Houston Aeros | AHL | 19  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 48  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
2007–08 | Texas Wildcatters | ECHL | 47  | 6  | 4  | 10  | 90  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
2008–09 | Houston Aeros  | AHL  | 56  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 130  | 4  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 10
2009–10 | Houston Aeros  | AHL  | 59  | 2  | 4  | 6  | 149  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
2010–11 | Houston Aeros  | AHL  | 60  | 4  | 4  | 8  | 132  | 8  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 2
2010–11 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 4  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 12  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
2011–12 | Minnesota Wild  | NHL  | 24  | 2  | 0  | 2  | 55  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
2011–12 | Houston Aeros  | AHL  | 26  | 2  | 2  | 4  | 34  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
2012–13 | Houston Aeros  | AHL  | 9  | 1  | 0  | 1  | 12  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
2012–13 | Ottawa Senators | NHL  | 15  | 1  | 0  | 1  | 47  | 5  | 0  | 2  | 2  | 17
2013–14 | Ottawa Senators  | NHL  | 33  | 1  | 1  | 2  | 63  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
2014–15 | Portland Pirates | AHL  | 2  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
AHL totals  | 231  | 10  | 12  | 22  | 505  | 12  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 12
NHL totals  | 76  | 4  | 1  | 5  | 177  | 5  | 0  | 2  | 2  | 17

## References

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1. ^ "Senators acquire forward Matt Kassian from Minnesota in exchange for Ottawa's sixth-round draft pick in 2014". Ottawa Senators. June 26, 2013. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
2. ^ "Wild recall Kassian; Latendresse on IR". Minnesota Wild. November 3, 2010. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
3. ^ "Matt Kassian (NHL Player Profile)". National Hockey League. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
4. ^ "Kassian tallies two goals in win over Canadiens". The Sports Network. March 3, 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
5. ^ "Senators acquire Matt Kassian from Wild for draft pick". The Sports Network. March 12, 2013. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
6. ^ "Ex-Senator Kassian still looking for work". Ottawa Sun. September 2, 2014. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
7. ^ "Coyotes invite Kassian, two others to camp: report". National Hockey League. September 26, 2014. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
8. ^ "Shifting NHL culture knocks enforcers down for the count". The Globe and Mail. March 23, 2015. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
9. ^ "March 16: Gameday Goodie - Matt Kassian". Ottawa Senators. March 16, 2013. Retrieved March 16, 2013.

## External links

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* Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database