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Habs knew Kassian’s history prior to trade with Canucks

Scott Darling, Zack Kassian

Scott Darling, Zack Kassian

AP

The Montreal Canadiens knew what they were getting when they acquired Zack Kassian from Vancouver.

Specifically, they were getting a player who had already been through the first stage of the NHL/NHLPA’s substance-abuse treatment program. Kassian was suspended without pay and placed in Stage Two yesterday, the day after suffering minor injuries in an early-morning car accident.

Montreal coach Michel Therrien confirmed to reporters today that the club knew of Kassian’s history prior to the trade that sent the 24-year-old winger to Montreal, along with a fifth-round draft pick, in return for veteran forward Brandon Prust, a pending unrestricted free agent.

That the Canucks had to include a draft pick in the deal perhaps makes more sense now than it did at the time.