A Breakdown Of Zack Kassian

How do you know a wannabe sports blogger is off work with an injury? Check the time spacing between their posts! 


How does one describe Zack Kassian's initial impression with the Vancouver Canucks? Underwhelming, pathetic, waste of a roster spot, no... None of those sound quite right.

Let's try another one. How about, "Work in Progress"! That one sounds much better, and probably most accurately describes Kassian's role in Vancouver. Unfortunately because acquiring Kassian came at the expense of Cody Hodgson, expectations were that he would contribute immediately.

Kassian's 2011-2012 NHL Stats; Stats are over 44 GP
Courtesy of Yahoo!

Looking directly at Kassian's stats, they are not overly impressive for this season. If he would have started the 2011 season in Vancouver chances are he may have spent the majority of the year in the American Hockey League much like his trade counterpart Cody Hodgson's first year of pro hockey.

The 6'3" 214 pound forward is experiencing what many go through in their first year of pro. A difficulty adjusting to playing a faster game against experienced men. Kassian was a man among boys in junior, who's pure physical ability made producing offensively a bit easier.

Kassian has been able to show glimpses of great talent at the pro level this past season. In the AHL he was producing at a 0.870 points per game clip, and even though success at the American Hockey League level is not the best indicator of how talented of an NHLer a player will be (I'm looking at you, Krog), it is still impressive.

Kassian also never really got a fair shot in the Canucks line up. He spent the majority of his games in Vancouver on the fourth line, aside from a stint with Ryan Kesler and David Booth and a short time on Henrik's wing while Daniel was injured. 

Now being that he played on the fourth line mainly in Vancouver, was his production here really that bad? Not really. Kassian was producing at a 0.180 level in Vancouver (0.230 overall), let's compare that to the other fourth line winger's point per game numbers:

Dale Weise: 0.120

Aaron Volpatti: 0.040

Manny Malholtra: 0.230

Although Manny isn't really a winger, he did play wing on the fourth line and took defensive zone draws from time to time. Albeit these players play in different styles, but their ice time was fairly similar. Zack's point production was good enough for second on that list, even though he was being shuffled around the lineup and adjusting to a new team and city. His actual season point per game number was identical to Malholtra.

Now, points per game clips don't really measure effectiveness on the ice. Zack's game was not what many Vancouver fans expected, mainly because we traded a player in Hodgson who was producing now for a project power forward who was not quite NHL ready.

Last year's performance is exactly that, last years. Vancouver fans should be looking forward to what Kassian can bring to the table next season. He's got the right attitude, and wants to get better for the team. A team which hypothetically could have a major opportunity for him next season.

As mentioned in a previous blog post, Kesler is out for the start of the season. This could mean 5'9" forward Jordan Schroeder could theoretically start the season as the team's second line center. 5'9" is incredibly small for the NHL, so it will be important to protect Schroeder with big wingers. Big wingers however, are useless if they don't have talent. So who do the Canucks have that is big and has talent? Well, David Booth is probably a lock to start the season.

Then who else does Vancouver have  with size and talent? Nicklas Jensen is one choice, but weather or not the youngster is NHL ready is yet to be determined. That leaves Zack Kassian, who if he plays the way he does in the AHL and in Junior has top six talent with a mean streak bigger than most. That would leave a line that looks like this:

Booth - Schroeder - Kassian

Not a bad line at all if Schroeder and Kassian can play to their potentials. Two big powerful players who have pretty decent speed, flanking for a small shifty center with a decent shot and good play making ability.

Jordan Schroeder: Opportunity Awaits

With Ryan Kesler set to miss roughly the first month and a half of the season after having shoulder surgery, the Canucks have a glaring hole up the gut in the top six. Kesler's production may have been lower this season, but the top six is still a lot weaker without him. 

So who will step in and take the opportunity? It sure wont be Cody Hodgson, the former tenth overall selection who was traded to Buffalo for Zack Kassian at the trade deadline. Most likely it will also not be Maxim Lapierre or Manny Malholtra, both of which are known for their bottom six duties, not offensive ability. Andrew Ebbett could be a potential fill in for a top-6 roll, but he seems to be better suited to a depth forward position with the club.

So who could be left? Recent draftee Brendan Gaunce will probably return to junior, and unless the long awaited Roberto Luongo trade brings in a top six center, there's really only one option, Jordan Schroeder.

Lots of fans are quick to judge Schroeder's performance in the American Hockey League. The diminutive Schroeder's first AHL season (2010-2011) saw him playing at a 0.460 points per game clip with the Manitoba Moose over a span of 61 games (10 goals, 18 assists). This past season (2011-2012) saw a vast improvement in Schroeder's game, scoring at a 0.580 points per game clip over 76 games with the Chicago Wolves (21 goals, 23 assists).

Fans are quick to critique a former first rounder scoring at a 0.580 points per game, but the highly praised "future of the franchise" Cody Hodgson also scored at 0.580 pace in his final season in the American Hockey League.

Another benefit to trying Schroeder on the second line to start the year is his improved two-way game. Which in a fairly recent province article he attributed to working with coach Craig McTavish

This year, with coach MacTavish, he helped me a lot, adding stuff to my game, trying to make me a better all-around player 

Schroeder's improved two way game is reflected in his plus/minus, which went up from a -7 to a +8 in just one season. 

Hopefully, with the glaring opportunity, Jordan is anxious to train over the off season and comes in to impress at training camp. Last season Schroeder showed glimpses of brilliance in the the pre-season with goals such as this against the flames (video by CanucksHD):

 

If Schroeder can put his natural offensive talents together with his new found two-way game, he will be the front runner to fill in for Kelser at the start of the season, and possibly for the third line roll if Malholtra cannot regain form from the eye injury. If he plays to his potential, his small stature will be forgotten, and will be an exciting player in Vancouver.