In fact, he was being treated in rehab for sturggles with alcohol. Though Kassian was ready to return to the ice after a few months, the Montreal Canadiens weren’t ready for him. It seemed like there weren’t many teams out there willing to take a chance on him, but the Oilers were. They traded for Kassian in December, giving up goaltender Ben Scrivens in exchange.
By the end of the 2015-16 campaign, Kassian racked up eight points (three goals, five assists) and 114 PIM in 36 games with the Oilers. His hard work and determination, as well as grit on the bottom-six, earned him a one-year contract extension and a second chance to prove himself.