Wild Sign Matt Kassian

[Thrillhouse]

Minnesota Wild President and General Manager Doug Risebrough today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has signed right wing Matt Kassian (pronounced KAS-ee-uhn) to a three-year entry level contract.

Kassian, 20 (10/28/86), collected 18 points (8-10=18) and 162 penalty minutes (PIM) in 72 games with the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League (WHL) in 2006-07 as the 6-foot-5, 245-pound forward set career-highs in games played, goals, assists, points and PIM. The Edmonton, Alberta-native ranked first on the team in PIM and recorded two power play goals and one game-winning tally. He added one assist in four playoff contests. Kassian was named the Blazers Scholastic Player of the Year for 2006-07 after completing four university courses while maintaining a 3.7 grade point average.

He accumulated 36 points (17-19=36) and 523 PIM in 245 career WHL contests during four seasons with Vancouver and Kamloops. Kassian was originally selected by Minnesota in the second round (57th overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

[Rynryn]

More toughness! how long until he can skate in the new NHL? I hope this doesn't mean we're dealing boogey...The two of them on a line would be awesome. Very, very vulnerable to goals against but awesome nonetheless. Revenge line?

[HordiBrusk29]

Great news. I was talking to Matt not long ago and I wasn't sure if a deal would get done. I'm guessing he'll probably start off in the ECHL.

[mike56]

since kassien and lucic have signed looks like the yotes will sign cormier to keep up in the arms race!

[JKidd]

Cant wait to see Matt hit the NHL ice in the near future. Even though, he's still about 2 years or so away from being "ready."

[PuckHogs29]

18 points in 72 games isn't bad for a guy who's probably more comfortable with his gloves off than on. I can't wait to see him in action.

[The Fridge]

damn the wild are set for tough guys for the next 5 years or more with Boogaard 6'7 270 being young hes around for a quite a while still and two (could-be Super HWs) Emmerson 6'8 250 and Kassian 6'5 245 as well as a few light heavys in houston (Stokes and Stoner) sh!t id hate to be another team playing agaisnt this team in a few years but even next year in Houston pre season should be fun with Emmerson and Kassian taking on the heavies.
but what i would do is trade one of these guys for someone of more skill or a draft pick becuase the wild cant have all the tough guys

[Yoke]

Hopefully one of these other guys can make it up in a year or two to be on a line with Boogaard. The Wild need a #2 guy. Veillieux wouldn't be horrible as a #3, but I hate that he's the second one.

[JKidd]

Originally Posted by Yoke

Hopefully one of these other guys can make it up in a year or two to be on a line with Boogaard. The Wild need a #2 guy. Veillieux wouldn't be horrible as a #3, but I hate that he's the second one.

Oh c'mon now, Brent Burns is the new Deputy in town...

[aaronious]

Did the thumping we took against the ducks have
anything to do with this signing?

[AVALANCHE FAN]

I wonder how many of the youngsters everyone has been signing will actualy get to play in the NHL next season.

[BrianTheAdsFan]

I hope the ice is good up in Minnesota. With that much weight on the ice at one time, who knows what might happen

[PuckHogs29]

Originally Posted by AVALANCHE FAN

I wonder how many of the youngsters everyone has been signing will actualy get to play in the NHL next season.

Probably not many of them, tough guys coming out of juniors aren't usually like big time goal scorers coming out of juniors. The tough guys take a little more developing in the minors.

[kingcobrafan]

Originally Posted by aaronious

Did the thumping we took against the ducks have
anything to do with this signing?

I would say a lot.

[Humpzilla]

Hopefully his abilities aren't wasted for too long in the East Coast League.