Sunday, May 30, 2010

Kassian arrested after bar fight

After 2009 first round pick Zack Kassian exercised a positive turnaround to a season of poor publicity, it seems as if the bruising power forward has again cast himself a negative shadow.

Kassian, a member of the Memorial Cup champion Spitfires, was arrested at 1:50 Sunday morning following a fight at a Windsor nightclub. Charges may be pending after the altercation left the other combatant with minor injuries including a split lip. No further details are available at this time.

The latest development shines a light on Kassian's need to mature. Players with a mean, aggressive streak can be very effective once they are able to harness that energy and keep it to ice, but they are of little use if they can't conduct themselves off it. As far as the Sabres are concerned, the only acceptable sin bin is the one at the rink.

Kassian made hockey headlines in January when he received a 20-game suspension for a high hit on Barrie's Matt Kennedy in his first game in a Windsor uniform. The intimidating right wing returned with fresh legs in time for the Spits run through the OHL playoffs and dominating defense of Canadian junior's top trophy.

We'll have more details as they drop.