Montreal Canadiens forward Zack Kassian cleared waivers Wednesday, one day after he was reinstated by the NHL and NHLPA.
The 24-year-old has been assigned to the St. John’s IceCaps of the AHL and has entered the follow-up stage of the league and union’s substance abuse program.
Kassian, who was acquired in an off-season trade with the Vancouver Canucks, was suspended without pay following an October car accident. Kassian was not behind the wheel of his vehicle when the accident occurred.
Kassian has played in 59 AHL games in his career. The rugged winger does not currently figure into Canadiens head coach Michel Therrien’s plan.
The Canadiens sent forward Brandon Prust and a 2016 fifth-round draft pick to the Canucks in exchange for Kassian in July.
Kassian, who has yet to play for the Canadiens, has totaled 35 goals and 66 points in 198 games over the course of four seasons in the NHL.
