After 12 seasons, an NHL player who made his living with his fists has decided to call it a career. Zach Kassian has officially announced his retirement after 661 regular season games and another 45 in the playoffs.
Kassian, 32, was a 13th overall draft pick of the Buffalo Sabres in 2009. After Buffalo, he played with Vancouver, and then Edmonton, where he truly made his mark in the league. His last season in the NHL was spent with the Arizona Coyotes.
Kassian was also a member of the Montreal Canadiens at one point, but never played with the team. He was involved in a car accident in which he was not the driver, but found to be under the influence. Kassian entered the NHL's Substance Abuse program and was eventually dropped from his deal by the Habs.