Zack Kassian placed on Long Term Injured Reserve: What does it mean for Edmonton Oilers?

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This in from the Edmonton Oilers: “Zack Kassian has been placed on Long Term Injured Reserve and Ryan McLeod has been recalled from the taxi squad under emergency conditions.”

Puckpedia reports the following on the rules of LTIR: “To qualify for LTIR, a player must be expected to miss at least 10 NHL Games AND 24 days of the NHL season. When a player is on LTIR, a team may exceed the salary cap.”

Kassian was injured on April 21. If his LTIR is backdated to April 22, the 24-day period will be over on May 15. The NHL playoffs art to commence on May 16.

My take

1. Kassian has had a poor season to date, and he had a weak playoffs last year against Chicago. That said, the Oilers are counting on him to add some fight, ferocity, size and hitting in the playoffs, especially if Edmonton faces a big, tough Montreal team in the first round. Physical play will be somewhat less of an issue if Edmonton faces Winnipeg in the first round, as now looks likely.