The NHL and the NHLPA announced today that Zack Kassian is being reinstated as available to the Montreal Canadiens organisation. Kassian has come out of rehab and entered the follow-up care phase of the Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program.
Kassian will continue to be monitored by the league and the NHLPA, and we probably shouldn’t expect him back in the Canadiens lineup in the near future.
Logically, Kassian would probably need to work on his conditioning before a return to play.
The Canadiens can either place him on the injured reserve, waive him, assign him to the IceCaps for conditioning, or simply activate him on the main roster, which would mean a forward would have to be returned to St. John’s.
As it stands, the key for Kassian will be to continue his quest for health, and maintain a clean lifestyle. If and when he returns to the lineup, the most important factor will be a healthy mind and body.
Update: The Canadiens have waived Kassian.
Kassian has been put on waivers already. No messing around from the Habs. He’s free for any team to pick him up.
— BrianWilde (@BWildeCTV) December 15, 2015
