Matt Kassian

Matt Kassian (born October 28, 1986) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who has played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Minnesota Wild and the Ottawa Senators.

Playing career Kassian made his NHL debut during the 2010-11 season after originally being selected in the second round, 57th overall, by Minnesota in the 2005 NHL entry draft. His junior hockey career was spent with the Vancouver Giants of the WHL.

On November 3, 2010, the Minnesota Wild recalled Kassian from the American Hockey League's Houston Aeros. During the month of November 2010 Kassian played four games for the Wild, collecting 12 minutes in penalties and no points, with only a single shot on goal. He was then assigned back to the Aeros in December. He was re-called from the Aeros in mid-January. He recorded his first NHL goal on March 1, 2012 in the first period of a game against the Montreal Canadiens. He scored his second NHL goal in the third period of that same game.

On March 12, 2013, Kassian was traded from the Wild to the Ottawa Senators for a sixth round draft pick in 2014. He spent the remainder of the 2012-13 season and all of the 2013-14 season with the Senators, appearing in a total of 48 games, serving primarily as an enforcer. Following the 2013-14 season, Kassian was not re-signed by Ottawa. "I wanted to be back and they felt otherwise. That's their right as an organization," he said.

In September 2014, Kassian was invited to Arizona Coyotes' training camp but was ultimately not offered a contract. He was invited to attend AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates training camp, and appeared in 2 games in the 2014-15 season with the club before ending his professional career and enrolling in business school.

He is of no relation to fellow professional forward Zack Kassian.

Career statistics Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2002–03 Sherwood Park Crusaders AAA AMHL 33 5 7 12 38 15 7 3 10 2003–04 Vancouver Giants WHL 37 1 0 1 42 3 0 0 0 4 2004–05 Vancouver Giants WHL 41 0 3 3 89 — — — — — 2004–05 Kamloops Blazers WHL 28 3 0 3 83 6 1 2 3 14 2005–06 Kamloops Blazers WHL 67 5 6 11 147 — — — — — 2006–07 Kamloops Blazers WHL 72 8 10 18 162 4 0 1 1 0 2007–08 Houston Aeros AHL 19 0 0 0 48 — — — — — 2007–08 Texas Wildcatters ECHL 47 6 4 10 90 — — — — — 2008–09 Houston Aeros AHL 56 1 2 3 130 4 0 0 0 10 2009–10 Houston Aeros AHL 59 2 4 6 149 — — — — — 2010–11 Houston Aeros AHL 60 4 4 8 132 8 0 0 0 2 2010–11 Minnesota Wild NHL 4 0 0 0 12 — — — — — 2011–12 Minnesota Wild NHL 24 2 0 2 55 — — — — — 2011–12 Houston Aeros AHL 26 2 2 4 34 — — — — — 2012–13 Houston Aeros AHL 9 1 0 1 12 — — — — — 2012–13 Ottawa Senators NHL 15 1 0 1 47 5 0 2 2 17 2013–14 Ottawa Senators NHL 33 1 1 2 63 — — — — — 2014–15 Portland Pirates AHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — — AHL totals 231 10 12 22 505 12 0 0 0 12 NHL totals 76 4 1 5 177 5 0 2 2 17