Kassian’s Still A Kid

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Apr 162012
 

A lot of people were caught off-guard when the Zack Kassian trade came to fruition. For all the speculation around why it happened, at the end of the day Cody Hodgson went to Buffalo and Kassian joined the Canucks.

Kassian came from a team where he was getting limited ice-time – and seriously less quality ice time than Hodgson – and, fairly or not, was expected to step straight into Cody’s shoes.

But that’s unrealistic. Completely unrealistic. And the last thing Kassian needs is this city and the media to run him out of town so I write this post pre-emptively after two comments really nailed home how I feel about the kid.

The first was from Steve “Dangle” Glynn:

RT @steve_dangle: Thing about Kassian is he really is the type of animal the Canucks needs, but not yet. He will be, but he’s a rookie

Kassian is exactly what this team needs. He’s a year younger than Hodgson, and he’s going to need a little more time to fall into the team’s system. Cody took a couple of year to develop. Even some of the team’s veterans took time to find their step within Vigneault’s system. Kassian had a matter of weeks to gear up for the playoffs and was dispatched on every forward line trying to find a fit. Finding a fit on this team isn’t easy for the best of players, but Kassian will soon, and those dividends will start to pay off after a full off season with the team. Don’t believe me? You’ll see it in David Booth as well.

The other was from Brian Wawryshyn of Canucks Corner:

RT @canuckscorner: Don’t spew venom at Kassian. He didn’t trade Hodgson. He’s a young kid with potential who is rarely getting on the ice. #canucks

Kassian has a whack load of potential. He’s been compared to guys like Lucic (which I don’t necessarily agree with) but he also looks to me like he can evolve into a young Todd Bertuzzi. This kid’s going to be wreaking havoc on the ice for the Canucks and his experience in the playoffs this season, whether it goes for just one more game or longer, is going to be big for his development.

The Canucks need someone to step up and lead this team. And while it would be great for Kassian to contribute more, it may be a bit much to expect such from a raw rookie. Instead, look at the veterans before him – guys like Hank, Kes, Booth, Higgins and May Ray have combined for 0 goals in the first 3 games in this series. I know fans are looking for a scapegoat, but this kid is hardly it.

  • Guest

    dsffds

  • Justine Galo

    I’m not quite sure how Kassian gets the blame for the rest of the team not scoring. 

  • Rich_Barry

    They look completely out of sync, most likely, due to D Sedin not being in the lineup. It seems the whole team is lacking that same level of drive and intensity as they had during last years run and unable to compete with LA’s hunger for the puck. Its definately not because of Zack Kassian.

  • http://twitter.com/teebs33 teebs33

    I haven’t seen much in the way of blame towards Kassian, admittedly I’ve shunned post game Twitter + Radio preferring to keep my sulking to myself. Hard to imagine people could find much fault in the 15:10 he’s played in the series.

  • Victoria, fellow CHB writer

    I blame kassian for his one little puck giveaway the last game but not much else can be pinned on him this series. He’s doing his best. I don’t begrudge him. And I agree that Kassian is just a kid – and in a couple of years he’ll be the tough, smart player we need. But will we trade him then like we did once Hodgson was developed? Are we the training ground for other NHL teams or a team that wants a Cup of their own? I like the idea of Kassian and what he can bring but we needed his potential now - for this playoffs. It’s not Zack’s fault he’s not there yet but it is our fault for trading away someone who was there for someone who wasn’t. Can’t help but wonder if we’d had Hodgson’s scoring if things wouldn’t be so desperate right now.

  • Marcuswestwood

    Kassian can not be held accountable for any of this situation , I don’t even believe on a team that has played the way our beloved Nuks have played in this series and at times this season, his mistake in last nights game shouldn’t even warrant being mentioned ……… The Canucks are as good as out unless they change their ways drastically between now and Wednesday eve and Kassian or any other single member of the team should be left alone if they are to be condemned by the fans , they all need to be strung up as a collective ………

  • Marcuswestwood

    Kassian can not be held accountable for any of this situation , I don’t even believe on a team that has played the way our beloved Nuks have played in this series and at times this season, his mistake in last nights game shouldn’t even warrant being mentioned ……… The Canucks are as good as out unless they change their ways drastically between now and Wednesday eve and Kassian or any other single member of the team should be left alone if they are to be condemned by the fans , they all need to be strung up as a collective ………

  • Jordeey man

    I don’t think people are blaming Kassian so much as Gillis. It was just a bad trade because Gillis was looking for someone who could carry our team in the future seasons, when what we really needed was somebody who was already producing. Had we kept Hodgson, I think we would have had an easier time with the Kings and probably won one or 2 of those 3 games. Hodgson had a lot of clutch goals during the season and who’s to say he wouldn’t have had more in the playoffs?