According to Sportsnet’s Mark Spector, the Edmonton Oilers are nearing a contract extension with Zack Kassian.
Spector is reporting that Oilers GM Ken Holland and Kassian’s agent Rick Curran have had ongoing discussions and appear to be reaching a common ground.
Holland spoke to Spector about his negotiations with Kassian’s camp for an upcoming Q&A.
“I’ve had a number of conversations with his agent, Rick Curran,” Holland noted. “The hope is that we can keep him in an Oilers uniform. I love his passion, his physicality. He’s a presence, and I am aware of the big playoffs he had three years ago. There is still five months before free agency. I believe Kass loves it in Edmonton, so hopefully we can find a solution that works for him and us.”
Kassian has found a home on Connor McDavid‘s wing and is well on his way to a career-best season. His 13 goals are already only two shy of his career-high, while his 28 points are only one off the 29 he posted for the Vancouver Canucks in 2013-14.
He is currently making $1.95 million against the cap on a three-year deal he signed with the Oilers in 2017.
“He’s happy there, the Oilers are happy with him,” Elliotte Friedman noted on a Hockey Night in Canada Headlines segment in December.
Kassian will turn 29 years old on Jan. 24 and is currently serving a two-game suspension for an altercation with Calgary’s Matthew Tkachuk last Saturday. His first game back in the lineup will be against the Flames again on Jan. 29, Edmonton’s first game out of the all-star break.
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