The 2015-16 season was filled with promise for the Montreal Canadiens as they were looking to improve on their previous year’s performance in the playoffs.
Among general manager Marc Bergevin’s key acquisitions was Zack Kassian, received from the Vancouver Canucks in a trade for Brandon Prust. Kassian was a hard-nosed player with a bit of a reputation for off-ice antics, but Bergevin was willing to look past that. He felt that Kassian represented the type of player that the team was lacking: an offensively-capable forward who can also mix it up physically when required.
During the pre-season, Kassian looked right at home as the team was rolling four strong lines, but following the final game of the tune-up calendar, fate had other plans.