Zack Kassian announced his retirement Thursday, ending a 12-season career in the National Hockey League.
The 32-year-old forward played in 661 regular season games with the Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers and Arizona Coyotes. He amassed 203 points, including 92 goals, and 913 penalty minutes.
“Playing in the NHL is one thing, but completing a 12-season career there is pretty special,” Kassian said in a statement.
“From the instructors, equipment guys and players I’ve met along the way, I’ve made a lot of connections that will last forever. »
A native of Windsor, Ontario, Kassian was selected in the first round – 13e overall — by the Sabers in 2009. However, he was traded to the Canucks during his rookie season (2011-12) for Cody Hodgson, another first-round pick.
Kassian, a sturdy six-foot-three, 211-pound forward, spent four seasons with the Canucks before being traded to the Montreal Canadiens in 2015.
His brief stint with the Canadiens was marred by a road accident and his entry into a drug treatment program, and he never played a single game with the team.
The Canadian eventually traded him to the Oilers, with whom he played for seven seasons, and where he gave a second wind to his career.
Kassian had his most productive season in 2019-20 when he scored 15 goals and added 19 assists. The Oilers rewarded their winger with a four-year contract extension worth US$12.8 million.
He finished his career in Arizona, where he appeared in 51 games last year, scoring two goals.