Former Memorial Cup champion Zack Kassian announces retirement

A former Memorial Cup champion and veteran of over 600 NHL contests announced his retirement on Thursday as former Windsor Spitfires and Peterborough Petes forward Zack Kassian called it a career.

Kassian, 32, played 12 professional seasons, suiting up in 661 career NHL regular season contests between Buffalo, Vancouver, Edmonton and Arizona. The big winger produced 92 goals, 111 assists and 203 points along with 913 penalty minutes. Prior to his time in the NHL, the LaSalle, Ont. product played four OHL seasons between Peterborough and Windsor from 2007-11, hoisting both the J. Ross Robertson Cup and Memorial Cup as a member of the Spitfires in 2010.

A big body at 6-foot-3 and 211Ibs., Kassian played with a physical edge and was chosen by the Buffalo Sabres in the first round (13th overall) of the 2009 NHL Draft. He joined the Spitfires in 2009-10, serving as a valuable piece in their march to the OHL championship as he put up 16 points (7-9–16) in 19 playoff contests. He returned to the Spitfires for 2010-11, recording 77 points (26-51–77) in 56 regular season games before being a force in the playoffs once again as Windsor reached the Western Conference Championship Series.

“To play in the NHL is one thing, but to make a 12-year career of it is pretty special,” Kassian said in a statement made through the NHLPA. “From coaches to equipment staff and fellow players I’ve met along the way, I’ve made so many relationships that are going to last a lifetime.”

Kassian was a World Junior silver medalist representing Canada in 2011. He’ll forever be remembered for playing a key part in one of the OHL’s most dominant dynasties in recent memory during his time as a physical presence in Windsor.

Congratulations to Zack Kassian on his NHL career. 👏 pic.twitter.com/Q5sNNK2rpZ

— NHL (@NHL) October 26, 2023