Zack Kassian of the Edmonton Oilers checks Dalton Prout of the Columbus Blue Jackets during an NHL game in Edmonton on Feb. 2, 2016.JASON FRANSON/The Canadian Press
The Bell Centre was supposed to be Zack Kassian's home rink, but he will play his first game there this season as a member of the Edmonton Oilers.
The Saturday afternoon game marks Kassian's return to Montreal, which was briefly his home before he entered a rehab program after an off-ice incident during training camp with the Canadiens, who acquired him last summer in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks.
When he got out of the NHL-NHL Players Association's substance abuse program in December, he was traded to Edmonton without ever playing for Montreal.
Kassian has split time between the Oilers and their American Hockey League team. He has two goals and two assists in eight NHL games this season.
In Edmonton, all has gone well so far.
"I see a guy who has been a great teammate and who has added a whole new dimension to whatever line he plays on," Oilers star Taylor Hall said Friday. "It's really helping us.
"Everyone knows the story of Zack and what he's been through but we only see a very good teammate and a guy who comes to play every night."
Kassian spoke to the media on Thursday in Ottawa, admitting that he "screwed up" in Montreal and that Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin warned him before the season he would not be given a second chance if he went astray.
Oilers coach Todd McLellan is happy with what he's seen from the 25-year-old. He liked Kassian's game – physical but able to score some goals – when he coached the San Jose Sharks and saw him often with the Canucks.
"We don't put pressure on him to score 25 goals playing with our top players," McLellan said. "He's finding his way back into the league and he's done an admirable job.
"More important is the person. Our No. 1 goal is that he gets what he needs to live a good, healthy life. So far he's been tremendous with it, both hockey-wise and life-wise."