The Edmonton Oilers are close to re-signing Zack Kassian to a one-year extension, TSN’s bob McKenzie reports. The money hasn’t been reported yet, but it should be comparable to his last contract’s cap hit of 1.75 million per year.
Peter Chiarelli took a chance on Kassian last year after he was in a alcohol-related accident before the season started, when he was about to start playing with the Montreal Canadiens. Kassian was then removed from the team, and worked his way through rehab and the NHL’s Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program. Upon his return to the NHL, the Canadiens waived him, then traded him to Edmonton in exchange for Ben Scrivens.