Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers Traded for Zack Kassian: How It Happened

The Oilers traded for the Canadiens Zack Kassian hoping for a spark. Years later, the Ben Scrivens deal remains a fascinating NHL memory.

by
Old Prof
July 26, 2026

In late 2015, the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens made a trade that felt like it came out of nowhere. However, it also kind of made sense once you saw the motivations. Edmonton sent goaltender Ben Scrivens east and got back Zack Kassian. On paper, it was a simple trade, but the real drama lay behind it.

The Oilers Needed an Energy Guy, Even One with a Reputation

For the Oilers, the context was basically: “We need a guy who brings size and physical energy.” This was Connor McDavid’s first NHL season, and Edmonton had plenty of talent, but they also felt their lineup was too easy to play against. Kassian had that “pain-in-the-rear” reputation. But he could play tough, win puck battles, and make life harder for opponents. Even if he brought baggage (because he did), the Oilers were betting his upside could fit next to their core.

For Montreal, it felt more like a clean-out move. Kassian had been on waivers and wasn’t claimed, and Montreal didn’t want to deal with that kind of distraction. At the same time, Carey Price was dealing with health issues. The goalie situation mattered to them, and Scrivens gave them a goalie option they could use in the meantime.

Montreal didn’t view Scrivens as the long-term answer. Instead, it was more like they needed something that would work immediately, and Kassian just wasn’t going to happen here.

Why the Trade Was Interesting for Both Teams

Both the Canadiens and the Oilers were trying to fix a problem without pretending everything was fine. Edmonton was taking a swing on the big, nasty forward version of Kassian and hoping he would grow up. Montreal was moving on from a player they didn’t want hanging around, and was taking a goalie who fits the short-term need.

And how did it turn out?

The biggest takeaway is that this trade wasn’t some instant miracle. Kassian’s value depended on whether he could stay on track and actually become consistent, and that was a big “if.” Scrivens was exactly the kind of goalie you acquire when you need coverage and hope for stability, not a franchise saviour. In other words, both teams got what they were looking for at the time, but neither side could spin it as a perfect win right away.

The Bottom Line Was That the Move Addressed Classic NHL Elements

Still, for a mid-season shakeup, it was a pretty classic hockey move. One team chased and found a boost in toughness. The other team cleared the room and covered a goalie situation. And that’s why everyone had eyes on it.

Kassian played seven seasons with the Oilers and had an up-and-down tenure. He didn’t always make the right choices off or on the ice. But he did give the team some electricity and protection. Scrivens played 15 games with the Canadiens, which turned out to be his final NHL appearances.

The Alberta-born Ivy League goalie (he played four years at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York) ended his hockey career by playing two KHL seasons. Given his intelligence and background, it wouldn’t be surprising if he picked up some Russian during his time there.