Edmonton Oilers hope forward Zack Kassian can grow into NHL starter

The Edmonton Oilers acquired troubled power forward Zack Kassian from the Montreal Canadiens on Monday in a trade for goaltender Ben Scrivens.

Kassian, 24, had one goal and 13 penalty minutes in five pre-season games with the Canadiens this season. He spent two months this fall in a substance abuse program and was cleared to play in mid-December.

He has been assigned to the American Hockey League's Bakersfield Condors.

The Oilers hope Kassian can get his game in shape in the AHL, coach Todd McLellan said Monday.

"I believe he understands where he is in his career right now, personally and professionally," McLellan said. "Giving him an opportunity to recover, and supporting him while he does that, hopefully we'll end up with a player who can contribute at this level."

Asked to characterize Kassian, the Oilers coach said: "The first thing that comes to mind for me is size, and a skill set that goes with it."

The physical winger has 35 goals and 31 assists in 198 career NHL regular-season games. He was acquired by the Canadiens from the Vancouver Canucks in return for Brandon Prust on July 1, 2015.

Scrivens, 29, has a 2-6-1 record in 10 games this season with the AHL's Bakersfield Condors, with a 3.47 goals against average and an .893 save percentage.

In 129 regular season NHL games, Scrivens had a 42-56-17 record with seven shutouts while playing with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Los Angeles Kings and the Oilers.

Also Monday, the Oilers recalled goaltender Eetu Laurikainen from HPK of the Finnish Elite League and assigned him to Bakersfield.