EDIT NOTE (01/21/2010): Zack Kassian was suspended for 20 games by the Ontario Hockey League for the hit referenced in this mid-January column by Nick Mendola. We've bumped this article to the top so you can watch the offense. VIEW ZACK KASSIAN'S BIG HIT HERE
In case you missed it, it's been a whirlwind week for Canadian tough guy/Sabres first-round pick Zack Kassian.
Kassian was dealt from the Peterborough Petes to the Windsor Spitfires as a much-coveted and dominant OHL player, with 41 goals, 70 assists and 268 penalty minutes in 152 games. Sent to the Spitfires, Kassian made a major impact in his first game, scoring a goal and laying out a massive dirty hit you can watch HERE.
The hit was filthy beyond a shadow of a doubt, earning Kassian an indefinite suspension, which you can read about HERE.
On the opinion side of things, it's well-known that I spent the entire 2009 NHL Draft preview show on our station advocate that the Sabres pick Kassian if he were available. They did, and I was and still am thrilled. The responsible thing to say is that I hate the hit and, truly, it should be eradicated from iced hockey. Still, juniors have away of ironing out dirty players. If they don't, the Sabres will take on that onus, and we all know the Sabres need aggressive, big men.
So, lose that hit, Zack, but keep that aggression. Hockey is a split-second sport, so you'll have to learn to adjust mid-stride, but as long as this particular feet-leaving-bonecrusher is a one-time deal, get back to making legal hits, scoring and fighting... more like this.
In all fairness, if someone just sent me the link and I didn't know any of the players were involved, I would say, "Young hockey players are silly and stupid," and proceed to watch the link 20 more times. Honesty's the best policy, right?
Totally with you on this one. Bring him in the next Ottawa game!
01/16/2010 1:08PM
Kassian
Honestly, a year suspension is in order. It would be a crime if he wasn't on the hockey rink
01/16/2010 1:12PM
Old-Time Hockey
Awesome hit!
01/16/2010 1:22PM
Please
don't change a thing. Finally a guy with a nasty streak. Enough of the nice guys. Bring him up now. We can use a guy like this.
01/16/2010 1:27PM
Peter
Nick- Chill out. It wasn't that bad of a hit. It's almost a shadow of the campbell hit. He didn't leave his feet if you pause it at 7 and 8 seconds in. It was a hit while the puck was in play.
01/16/2010 1:31PM
at least...
he doesn't look like he'll be a bust. like that lugging sloth myers.
01/16/2010 1:34PM
whoa pt.2
what a hit by kassian. yes he left his feet and that's a no no, but in general that's how you hit a player.
01/16/2010 1:37PM
@Kassian
So would throwing down gloves and punching someone in the face.. not good reasoning...
01/16/2010 1:45PM
Didn't leave his feet
Another angle shows he didn't leave his feet until after the hit was made. With that said, it was still a borderline intent-to-injure hit that needs to go away.
01/16/2010 1:49PM
So when's he being called up?
HaHa, I want to see him in a Sabres jersey. Polish him up, take the goon out and make him a player to be feared! I'd like to see more toughness for the Sabres
01/16/2010 1:52PM
ridiculous
that hit needs to be removed from hockey. whatever happened to a hip check. i dont care how good this kid is he is lucky kennedy is allright.
hit like kaleta when the guy sees u coming. its gutless when he is looking up or away.
01/16/2010 2:03PM
re:Kassian
A year?!? Have you ever even played a sport? Should be 5-7 games max. Dumb play by a player I can't wait to see in a Sabres uniform.
01/16/2010 2:05PM
Wow
My favorite is that Kassian then ensues to beat Kennedy with everything but the ring post! Get this kid ready!
01/16/2010 2:12PM
WOW
How fast can the seamstress get his name in Blue and Gold. Tonight?
01/16/2010 2:23PM
Mike in VA
Cant wait till he joins us. Goodbye Mair
01/16/2010 2:44PM
WHAT?
It looks like he just fell over him, almost like he was trying to jump over him. Like he realized too late that the dude wasn't ready for the hit. Campbell's hit from a few years back was MUCH worse.
01/16/2010 2:55PM
Meh
Bring him and his attitude in. If he doesn't mature and stays dirty, Ruff won't deal with it. If he grows up and sticks to playing clean hockey, he'll be invaluable.
01/16/2010 3:04PM
Great,now we have
The 2 dirtiest players in north america. Does anyone remember Corey Tropps hit last yr against the university of Michigan? Bring up these guys and let the 2 play on a line together.Both can score goals and bring fear to the opponents.I agree,play them against Ottawa.Bring it on!!!!!.
01/16/2010 3:11PM
Familiar
He looks like Pecca and May squeezed into the same uniform.He's ready.
01/16/2010 3:29PM
Soup?
Brian Campbells hit on Umberger? That was legal. No fine, no suspension then.
01/16/2010 3:40PM
Not that bad
A year suspension would be outrageous. 10 games absolute max. Bring him up!
01/16/2010 3:40PM
Wanted!!!!!!!!!!! NOW
He will be quite the force on the ice for us, I can't wait till he gets here.....BUT you can deliver the same hit without the jump!!!!!!
01/16/2010 3:41PM
Yes
Kaleta and Kassian on the same team. Watch out NHL. This team is gonna be much more like sledge hammers than Sabres.
01/16/2010 3:50PM
The Boughey Man
It's funny that Kassian's coach is Bob Boughner. Love the hit, don't think it's dirty at all.
01/16/2010 4:11PM
A bit high
It was a bit high, but he didn't leave his feet until the the hit. That was not nearly as dirty or illegal as Ovechin's hit on Kaletta and he only got the rest of theat one game.
01/16/2010 5:47PM
Dirty Hit but Will be OK
That hit was dirty but Kassian is young and will make mistakes. With Myers doing so well at age 19 we might get the expectation that other draft picks of ours will keep up his high standard. But its better for Kassian to learn what he can get away with in Juniors so he can deliver the clean hits that will make him a huge contributor (and fan favorite) for the Sabres when he's ready to play for the big club.
01/16/2010 5:54PM
call him up now
Get this kid in to a Sabres jersey tonight!!
01/16/2010 6:26PM
Nice
I am excited to see what he can do in the NHL on the Kaleta line. I like how he dropped the gloves right away after the hit. We have to remember that Kaleta had his share of dirty hits when he was young and look how he turned out. Our future looks very exciting. GO SABRES.
01/16/2010 6:26PM
suspend the guy.
"I wasn't trying to hurt him," Kassian said
Really? Sure he was and that is the problem with the Canadian junior system (and the reason why we are lurching back to the clutch and grab hockey); in both cases the old guard thinks that these kinds of elements are good for the game. We cannot make excuses for punk behavior and call it tough guy hockey. Dirty is dirty and this guy needs to sit for at least 20 games. Whether he left his feet or not is not the issue he went out of his way to hurt another player.
01/16/2010 7:51PM
banish him
All you whiners who wet their pants calling for a huge suspension when Campbell got demolished....now youre supportive of cheap shots LOL Typical Buffalo. No wonder you cant get a football coach! LOL
01/16/2010 8:48PM
Stick to Golf
"Honestly, a year suspension is in order. It would be a crime if he wasn't on the hockey rink"
-- Stick to golf, you wienie
01/17/2010 3:19AM
Coach Boughner
Bob Boughner is the coach of the Spitfire. Thats awesome.
01/17/2010 9:06AM
PC'ness
We're all getting soft in the days of Political Correctness. A suspension likely is in order, but for a YEAR? C'mon. That hit doesn't warrant a year suspension.
01/17/2010 9:40AM
another Darcy Bust
Another felon like Kaleta to dirty Buffalos name. BUST, the Euphorics cry...
01/17/2010 9:50AM
re:banish him
When did Campbell get demolished? Get your troll, rash covered face out of here. Or at least get your facts straight.
I think I hear a billy goat on the bridge! Quick, it's dinner time!
01/17/2010 10:18AM
No worse than the hit on Drury
This hit was no worse than the one on Drury by Ottawa a couple years back and that one did not even lead to a suspension.
01/17/2010 11:53AM
Let him do that to Chris Neil
Get him up here and let this caged animal loose. I'd like to see him take out Neil with a hit like that. Hit that SOB as retribution for Drury and make him look like a scattered jig saw puzzel.
01/17/2010 11:54AM
not dirtier than some of other NHLers
the only bad thing i saw about that hit was that he left his feet. i have seen worse from Scott Stevens when he was sticking out elbows and connecting to people's jaws. Yet we consider him one of the best NHL defenseman. Let me put it this way if that was Sidney Crosby hitting like that in a game would there even be a penalty?
01/17/2010 12:31PM
Dirty
The hit was incredible as far as sheer force is concerned. But he left his feet and went high. Part of me can't wait for this but another doesn't want to have a Chris Neil on the Sabres
01/17/2010 1:25PM
ban for life
this kid must have stuck around south buffalo too long with kaleta, ban him for life for this felonius assault
01/17/2010 4:51PM
Re:ban for life
Ha, you don't even know where these guys are from, and you try to make fun of South Buffalo? Kaleta's from Angola, Kennedy's from South Buffalo. Why do some people bother? Some of you posters need to quit proving your ignorance.
01/17/2010 10:31PM
Re:Ban for life
You're an idiot, Kaleta is from Angola, Kennedy is from S.Buffalo... know your facts moron
01/18/2010 1:10AM
The hit would have been clean
The hit would have been clean if he didn't leave his feet and go high. He's been known as a power forward who hits hard. A nice little suspension should wake him up some but when he gets up to Buffalo what a pairing we could have with Kaleta and Kassian!
01/18/2010 8:51AM
New Line
I cant wait for this kid to come up. Put him on a line with Kaleta and Kennedy and it could be called the K line.
01/18/2010 9:02AM
The great equalizer..
Without Kassian in the Buffalo system Bruins beast Milan Lucic would haunt the Sabres for the next 12 years. Remember the 80's and our regular Beatdowns by the Bruins toughguys. Kassian will answer the bell for Buffalo and allow the program to remain competitive in the corners and along the wall.
01/18/2010 12:48PM
Myers
Who is the tool that keeps saying Myers is a bust? And can you please shut up, he is going to be one of the best Dmen in the NHL in a few years.
01/18/2010 1:20PM
Really..
... How are people hateing on this kid. The best part of it is he whoops the guy that challenges him without a prob. Bring him up. He Scores, is talented offensively and defensively and can knock you out. What more could you ask for.
01/18/2010 2:39PM
Kennedy??????
THIS is how bad it's gotten around here....
WHAT A JOKE!!!
01/18/2010 7:37PM
Serious??
Some of you people have no idea what you are talking about it's hilarious. Myers leads all rookies in assist and blocked shots and is a lock for the calder trophy. Kassain will be a great fit in the sabres line up we need he asap. And enough of this felon stuff. It's a game and those hits happen get over it.
01/18/2010 8:15PM
NICK
It's about time the Sabres get someone on the ice like him. I hope Lindy Ruff gets a chance to make this kid into the type of aggressive enforcer needed by a team like he sabres for twenty years.
01/19/2010 12:13AM
Wait...
If teams start running Miller you can bet Kassian could be a huge asset for the Sabres and a huge favorite for the fans.
01/19/2010 3:44AM
Absolute Crap
That was an extremely dirty and inexcusable hit.
I downloaded the YouTube video. I watched it in a video player, frame by frame. He comes across the ice. He gets into what looks to me like a position a ski jumper would, LEAVES HIS FEET leading with his forearm (which seems to be the popular way to deliver dirty hits now) and clocks the guy in the side of the head and face.
I'm as big a Sabres fan as you'll find, but I'm also an intelligent hockey fan, and an extremely honest person. Kassian deserves anything that the OHL will dish out x 20. There is no room in ice hockey for that. Period. The Sabres do not need turds like this in their punch bowl. I don't care how "mean" he is and how much people like Nick Mendola and others might like that. If "mean" = dirty hits, I don't want it.
01/19/2010 5:53AM
re at least....
Get some glasses or please don't operate heavy machinery. You are obviously unfit to indicate Myers is a bust. This hit was dirty as he left his feet. It is nice that Lucic won't be tormenting us for years to come as we have a good tough North American kid to answer the bell. Just stay away from the cheap shots.
01/19/2010 7:42AM
Myers
Totally agree!
01/19/2010 9:48AM
5 games max
and only b/c it was in the OHL. In the NHL, that was a relatively clean hit. Maybe a 2 minute penalty for charging. Y'all need to have your skivvies checked. The kid turned to face Kassian at the last second otherwise that's a shoulder onshoulder hit.
01/19/2010 3:33PM
Watch Figure Skating
I am tired of fans that complain about physical play in hockey. This is not figure skating, when sports are physical something dirty is bound to happen. It's just the nature of the sport. Stop watching hockey if you can't handle the physical play. Suspension is in order, but as a player this is why you have to keep your head up. It's a physical game!!!!
01/20/2010 10:51AM
eh...
Yeah. He left his feet. indefinate suspension is crap. couple of games max. The Chris Neal hit on drury was worse and he didn't even get suspended for that. What I found most impressive of him was the second after he made the hit he dropped his gloves and proceeded to destroy the punk that came to Kennedy's rescue! In my humble opinion, he's probably not ready yet, but I can't wait to see him replace the utterly useless Adam Mair, who confuses me every game on why he draws an NHL paycheck!
01/22/2010 11:15AM
self righteous
get these self righteous "hockey police" outta here. im talking about the drooling morons that want the kid banned for life. banned? really? chris pronger kicks a guy and gets less than 5 games and you want some 18 yr old banned for an over zealous hit? please, get over yourself. the people calling for banishment are the same idiots that will be whining about the sabres lack of toughness that kassian will bring. get over yourself you self righteous corndogs.
01/22/2010 2:58PM
Myers hater
Shut up and compare stats with ANY other Dmen on the team. Yer an idiot.
01/22/2010 6:50PM
the hero
looked like a nice solid hit....ecept he left his feet. the hero got his ass whooped too, he came swoopin in like clark kent and got it good.
01/23/2010 11:22AM
Peca
Everyone used to cheer peca when he did the same thing, what is the difference.If you do not like hitting, violence and tough plays, why are you watching hockey? Watch golf. Real men want aggressive, sometimes dirty plays. Its the part of life that makestough men rise up while the pansies who do nothing but cry wallow in the depths.
01/23/2010 12:30PM
RE: self righteous
Could not agree more with your comments. This is hockey..not figure skating. The kid is trying to impress the coach with his style of play(which by my standards wil get him into the blue and gold) and the Sabres hierarchy. This kid plays with passion. I liken the play to watching a defensive lineman destroy a quarterback on a pass rush. Trying to stop your momentum at this kids speed is alot to ask for. The kid maybe should have received 2games because of leaving his feet..I say maybe. The fall to the ice for his victim made the most impact not his actual hit. Again..this is Hockey!!!
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