ROSTER REDUX: Zack Kassian

Ahead of the 2018-19 season, EdmontonOilers.com is taking a look back at the '17-18 individual performances of the Oilers in our series 'Roster Redux'
EDMONTON, AB - Among the many skaters taking part in the Oilers informal skate on Tuesday was Zack Kassian, who will be entering training camp a married man following a longer than usual off-season.
"Going two months strong, so that's good," Kassian said with a smile outside the Oilers Dressing Room.
While the on-ice energizer certainly did enjoy his wedding, Kassian said the extended summer featured plenty of personal thought due to the Oilers result in the 2017-18 campaign.
"It was one of those weird off-seasons where you have a lot of time to reflect and think about the season," he said. "I know everybody does that at the end of the year but we had a little more time than we wanted and expected."

ROSTER REDUX

SERIES SO FAR
Khaira
Strome
Aberg
Bear
Russell
Puljujarvi
Benning
Rattie
Lucic
Draisaitl
Nugent-Hopkins
Talbot
Caggiula
Klefbom
McDavid
Individually, the 27-year-old recorded seven goals and 19 points in 74 games - five points fewer than the mark he reached in '16-17 when the Oilers made the playoffs and Kassian was a fear-mongering figure on the ice. As a collective, Edmonton owned a 36-40-6 record, finishing sixth in the Pacific Division by way of a 78-point total.
"Individually, everyone has to take care of themselves, be better and that will make the team a lot better,' Kassian added.
The Windsor, ON, product said he didn't focus on anything in particular over the summer in regards to his training. The emphasis was just on getting quicker and stronger.
"After not having the season you want to have personally or team-wise, you have to go back to the drawing board and maybe change some things up," Kassian said. "I just tried to work on my all-around game - speed, power - all that stuff that made me successful early on."
Despite NHL training camps still not scheduled to begin for another week, the fact that a large contingent of returning players has already arrived in Edmonton displays a group eager for October to start.
"Everyone is excited to be back," Kassian, who will enter his fourth Oilers season, said. "Almost our whole team is back and we're still a week away from training camp. That shows that the guys are excited to get back and get to work.
"We know we're going to have a lot of pressure to perform but that's the fun thing about pro hockey: we get a chance to redeem ourselves and we're looking forward to it."
With many members of the club ready to get the show on the road - literally and figuratively - Kassian believes the Euro trip to begin the year will be a positive component for the club in establishing a new environment.

Edmonton will play an exhibition game against Kolner Haie on Oct. 3, in Cologne, Germany. The club will commence the season three days later in Gothenburg, Sweden versus the New Jersey Devils.
"I think it's a perfect opportunity for us to get together as a team," Kassian said. "Get on the road, battle hard, work hard and at the same time, get to know our teammates.
"A lot of the same faces are back but just to create that winning environment and winning attitude, it's important to have the guys together so we can embrace that throughout the year to have a strong bond as a team."