Announcement: Zack Kassian Speaks Out on Brain Damage He Suffered:
In a somber announcement, former Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, and Arizona Coyotes tough guy, Zack Kassian, has officially retired from professional hockey. His retirement sheds light on the toll his career took on his health.
Kassian recently revealed that a critical incident marked the turning point in his career. While many believed it was a later fight against the Habs' new tough guy,
Arber Xhekaj, Kassian pinpointed a 2021 encounter with former Philadelphia Flyer
Zack MacEwen as the catalyst for his decline.
"I was never the same after what happened against MacEwen in 2021. The human brain [is peculiar], something happens like that, and it's very hard to become the same afterward,"
expressed Kassian.
Although Xhekaj wasn't directly responsible, the incident occurred during a fight between MacEwen and Kassian in a pre-season game. MacEwen, not expecting to knock out Kassian himself, inadvertently became a part of the unfortunate event.
The 2021 fight left Kassian knocked out and forever changed. This pivotal moment ultimately led to the decline of his playing abilities, culminating in his recent retirement. Throughout his NHL career, Kassian amassed 203 points, scoring 92 goals and providing 111 assists.
Previously on Oilers Daily
POLL |
NOVEMBRE 14 | 241 ANSWERS Announcement: Zack Kassian Speaks Out on Brain Damage He Suffered: Were you a fan of Kassian in Edmonton? |
Yes | 182 | 75.5 % |
No | 59 | 24.5 % |
List of polls |
|
34 minutes ago | By Liam McCormick Oilers significantly shake up lineup, healthy scratch could hint at trade deadline plans |
|
2 hours ago | By Ryan Hall Edmonton Oilers receive bad news with injury to top goalie trade target |
|
3 hours ago | By Liam McCormick Matthew Tkachuk facing worst case scenario with injury after 4 Nations Faceoff |
|
14 hours ago | By Ryan Hall Edmonton Oilers facing decision to cut two roster players in the near future |
|
15 hours ago | By Ryan Hall Trade proposal emerges between Edmonton Oilers and Chicago Blackhawks for Seth Jones |
|
16 hours ago | By Ryan Hall Oilers top prospect Matthew Savoie gets personal about call up to the NHL |
|
18 hours ago | By Liam McCormick Oilers reporter facing criticism for asking brutal question to Mattias Ekholm |
|
19 hours ago | By Liam McCormick Another star goalie becomes available to Edmonton Oilers in trade |