FIRST POSTED: FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013 09:35 PM EDT

The Senators will be armed with their own nuclear deterrent for this round of the Battle of Ontario.

As the Senators prepare to close out a five-game homestand Saturday at Scotiabank Place against the Toronto Maple Leafs, newly-acquired winger Matt “The Kassassin” Kassian is preparing to make his debut in the provincial punchup.

Twenty-four days ago in enemy territory at the Air Canada Centre, Senators GM Bryan Murray decided he’d seen enough after David Dziurzynski was knocked out by Toronto’s Frazer McLaren. Days later, he acquired Kassian.

While Dziurzynski suffered a concussion and has returned to the minors, the Senators have served notice that Toronto’s Colton Orr and McLaren will have to answer to rugged winger Chris Neil or Kassian if they try anything silly.

Kassian, choosing his words carefully after a short skate at the Bell Sensplex on Good Friday, knows games like this are why Murray gave Minnesota Wild GM Chuck Fletcher a sixth-round pick in 2014.

“You have a big, physical team coming in and I’m here to help play against big, physical teams,” Kassian told the Sun. “Like I said, you can’t put yourself in a position to lose a hockey game by taking a stupid penalty or doing something completely unnecessary.

“And, if there are situations that arise over the course of a game — just like in any game — you’re there to help out and take care of it. You’re there to support, help protect and stick up for your teammates. That doesn’t change game to game or team to team.

“Do they have more guys who are capable of being in a position on the ice where you’re going to have to do that? Yeah, maybe they do. That’s their identity as a team, to be a big, physical team to play against. I want to be an element of our team that makes us big, strong and tough to play against.”

Kassian has dropped the gloves once in the seven games he’s been here and that was last Saturday when he beat up B.J. Crombeen of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Kassian doesn’t go looking for trouble, but he doesn’t back down, either.

He doesn’t want Orr, McLaren or anybody else taking liberties against his teammates. Kassian is aware he’s not alone on that front with guys like Zack Smith and Neil as willing participants if there’s a need to drop the gloves.

“It’s the type of thing where you want to be prepared to do whatever it takes to help your team win games,” said Kassian. “That means be prepared to dump the puck in, take a hit and be in a fight if you have to be. It all depends on the game.”

Kassian hasn’t fought Orr, but does have a history with McLaren. According to dropyourgloves.com, the duo danced three times in the WHL in Sept. 2005 when McLaren was with Portland and Kassian was in Kamloops.

McLaren didn’t say anything that would light a fire under Ottawa.

“You don’t want to let emotions get the best of you. I know it will be a good physical game, but the bottom line is we need the two points and we’re trying to catch playoff spots and finish as high as we can in the standings,” said McLaren.

“There’s going to be a good atmosphere. They’re doing extremely well, they’ve developed a hard-working mentality and pride themselves in out-working teams. It’s similar to us, not so much with the injuries, but it should be a close game.”

Kassian said he has a good idea what the atmosphere will be like even though he’s never had a first-hand look.

“I was a kid who grew up in Edmonton and it was always the Battle of Alberta, so I would equate it to being about the same as that,” said Kassian. “The feelings, even as a kid, when you’re watching that happen, (you realize how) exciting, fun and intense those games were. I have no doubt that will apply (Saturday).”

Kassian didn’t like the Leafs growing up as a kid, but noted he can’t stand anybody not wearing a Senators sweater these days.

“They’re the opponent and I dislike all our opponents, so it’s not like I hold a special place in my heart (in his dislike) for (them),” he said.

Kassian is ready for battle.

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Scariest have to be the behemoths who are smiling when they’re beating on somebody.

You get the feeling Matt Kassian is that type of guy — even if he’s just grinning on the inside.

The 6-foot-4, 232-pound winger was clearly thrilled to be at Scotiabank Place as a Senator Thursday — even though it meant he had to leave his favourite poolside book-reading spot in Houston, where it was 25C, and now has to buy himself a winter coat.

“I was kind of expecting Prime Minister Harper to be waiting for me at the airport,” Kassian, who was obtained Wednesday from the Minnesota Wild for a sixth-round pick, said playfully after his first practice in the new colours. “My flight was delayed, so that must have been why he couldn’t make it.”

The Senators rolled out the red carpet for him, as they should. After non-fighters like Chris Phillips, Kaspars Daugavins and Patrick Wiercioch have had to rush to the defence of fallen teammates in recent games, Ottawa can now boast having one of the toughest heavyweights in hockey.

According to fan voting on the web site dropyourgloves.com, Kassian has an unbeaten record of 29-0-25 in the NHL and AHL, combined, since he last lost a scrap. His list of dance partners is a who’s who of the game’s biggest and best brawlers.

“I’m not going to slot it anywhere, but I think all the guys who are heavyweights know who can throw and who can stand in there,” Kassian, 26, said when asked where he would rank himself among the top contenders. “Guys are so tough now. Anyone can beat anyone on any given night.

“I would say I can stand in there with anybody in the league. Obviously, there are guys you’re going to have a tougher time than with others. I think of the fights I have had in this league I’ve proved that I can and will stand in with guys, and do well against pretty much everybody. Not to say that’s always going to be the case, but I think I can stand in there right with the guys that are at the top.”

Kassian, a former second-round pick of the Wild, will wear No. 28 for Ottawa — the same number he wore with Minnesota before it was given to former Senator Zenon Konopka in the off-season. The Western Conference team had him playing for its AHL affiliate in Houston after acquiring Mike Rupp earlier this season.

“I love the physical game,” said Kassian, who spoke of the need for teams to have a ‘nuclear deterrent’ in an interview earlier this week. “I’m not out there to play patty-cakes, that’s for sure. It’s not soccer or basketball. I mean I’m out there to get a little gritty, dirty, and that’s what I’m going to do.

“I know my role, I know my game. I think I can play, I know I can play, in fact. It’s not just completely one-dimensional. It’s not like I’m going to be trying to step out of my means and try to do something completely ludicrous or ridiculous.

“I’m a simple, hard player. I’m hard on the forecheck, take pucks to the net. I’m good in the defensive zone. It’s something I’ve relied on and it has allowed me to get as far as I have in my career. Playing the game smart. Not just taking stupid penalties.

“I was raised to be a workhorse. Sometimes you’ve got to pull up your bootstraps, good, bad or indifferent. And you’ve got to just plow ahead.”

In his first practice, Kassian skated with Daugavins and Peter Regin. Coach Paul MacLean hinted the big man would make his debut in Buffalo Saturday afternoon, against John Scott and the Sabres.

“I thought he got up and down the rink fine,” said MacLean. “I think we’re going to take another day and evaluate it all, but there’s certainly a strong possibility of that, yes.”

That would be more than fine with Kassian, who already knew Guillaume Latendresse, Mike Lundin and Kyle Turris before joining the Senators.

“It’s a really good group. I already feel part of it,” he said. “The guys are very, very welcoming. Everyone is really, really good. Something Guillaume had said to me when I spoke to him on Tuesday …. it’s a group that really cares about each other, I think, and I’m really excited to be a part of that.”

In the meantime, he plans on doing some reading indoors. Already with the reputation of being eager to converse on any subject, Kassian was asked his thoughts about the new pope.

“I didn’t get much of a chance, just the way the flights were, to look at it that much,” Kassian said. “What I got from it, it was a little bit of a surprise on some levels. But I don’t really know enough about that situation, or how the selection went. You might have to get back to me in a couple of days. Give me a chance to read the paper a little bit.”

don.brennan@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @SunDoniB

Let’s get ready to rumble by ottawasun

From left, Robin Lehner, Matt Kassian and Patrick Wiercioch skate during drills at the Ottawa Senators practice held at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, March 14 2013.
Photograph by: Jean Levac , Ottawa Citizen

By Don Campbell, Ottawa Citizen

OTTAWA — Just as advertised, there’s much more to the newest Ottawa Senators heavyweight than his brawn and willingness to take on all-comers.

Matt Kassian had barely completed his first skate with his new team before he was suggesting he needed a little more time to assess to the surprise appointment of Pope Francis of Argentina.

“I guess it was somewhat of a surprise, but give me a couple of days to read up on him and I’ll get back to you with what I think,” quipped the Senators new 6-5, 232-pound lethal weapon.

Seconds later, Kassian was trying to put aside what he perceived as a snub when he arrived in Ottawa late Wednesday night.

“I was kind of expecting Mr. Harper to be there,” Kassian said, tongue fully in cheek.

“But my flight was delayed and I guess that’s why he wasn’t there.”

Kassian, as his reputation suggests, is many things.

One thing he is not is dull.

He is also never at a loss for words.

And the Senators hope to unleash the star of hockeyfights.com, dropyourgloves.com and youtube Saturday afternoon in Buffalo when the Senators try to snap a run of back-to-back shootout losses.

Kassian, acquired from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick, fully knows he wasn’t brought in for any reason other than to take the pressure off the likes of resident tough guys Chris Neil and Zack Smith while making sure the team’s lightweights don’t have to play a role they’re not suited for.

He has to fill the roles of the departed Matt Carkner and Zenon Konopka, and on Wednesday Kassian said he’ll take care of it.

“I’m not here to play pattycakes,” said the 26-year-old veteran of 28 games, another 276 in the minors and too many pugilistic opponents to even begin to count.

“This isn’t soccer or basketball.

“I know my role. It’s not like I am going to step out of my game and try and do something ludicrous.

“When you talk at this stage of your career, you know what is expected of you and you have to play your role in the present.

“People say they’re lacking that role (of enforcer) and the reason I’m here is to bring that element. I want to make everyone on the ice grow a bit.

“Guys know who can throw them and I would say I can stand in with anyone in this league. I have proven I can stand in there with the guys at the top.”

Kassian is not talking out of turn here.

In 24 games last season with the Wild, his fights-to-goals ratio was 7:2, including bouts with the likes of George Parros, Paul Bissonette and seemingly longtime favourite combatant Darcy Hordichuk.

In the American Hockey League (2008-11) with the Houston Aeros, Kassian wracked up 411 penalty minutes and he didn’t accumulate them two at a time with infractions like tripping.

Senators head coach Paul MacLean wants to see Kassian in action sooner than later.

“I thought he got up and down the rink fine,” said MacLean.

“We will take another day and evaluate and it’s possible we would put him in there (Saturday in Buffalo).

“That (toughness) element is something you need to have. Our guys need to be comfortable out there, especially on the road.”

The Ottawa Senators acquired forward Matt Kassian from the Minnesota Wild this afternoon to bring some “heft and sandpaper”  into their lineup.

Here is what GM Bryan Murray had to say about the acquisition of Kassian for the Senators and the team’s approach heading into the 2013 Trade Deadline:

He’s a big strong guy, he’s a very physical player, he’s a very willing combatant. With the number of young players and injuries we have on our roster, there has got to be a sense of comfort that they can go out and play without being pushed around, which has happened a couple times here so we just felt it was a need and an addition that, given the opportunity to get one, a guy like this, a big guy, he’s a young player and we’re hoping that he’ll work with our coaches and be a real contributor to our team.

Chris Lund caught up with Matt to chat with him about the organization, guys he knows on the team, his style of play and when he hopes to arrive in Ottawa.

Here’s what he had to say:

On joining the Senators…

I’m just incredibly excited. It’s going to be a great opportunity, it’s a great organization in the country that I was born in and raised in so it’s going to be exciting. I think Ottawa’s a beautiful city and I’ve always loved the place. Both me and my fiancée are incredibly excited to be a part of this.

On joining the Sens as a Canadian…

You grow up being a fan of a Canadian team and being a Canadian kid the fan support there is absolutely phenomenal. You always love playing in Canada because those are always really exciting games to be a part of and now I’m going to be a part of a lot more of them and that’s very exciting.

On new teammates he knows…

I’ve known Guillaume Latendresse for quite some time, we’re pretty good friends actually from the few years he was with Minnesota and then Mike Lundin as well. I know a couple other guys as well. I know O.B. (Jim O’Brien) too just from skating this summer before the season started. I was just kind of texting back and forth with Gui and he was telling me about the guys and what good group it is and I know it’s a younger group and a group I think there’s a lot of things to be excited about. It’s an organization that I think has a lot of things going for it and, like I said, I’m incredibly excited to be a part of it.

On speaking with Sens GM Bryan Murray and what he’ll bring to the team…

I spoke with him (Bryan Murray) briefly on their way to Montreal and I’m just kind of running around with my head cut off here trying to figure stuff out. As far as the type of player I am, I’m not coming in with any delusions about being a 50 goal scorer or anything like that. It’s going to be a little bit of meat and potatoes old style hockey. I’m going to be a very physical player, a very tough presence, I’m going to be a little bit of human HGH and make the guys grow a couple of inches out there. You want your players to play confident and feel comfortable out there in a very physical division that’s in a very physical conference. You want to bring that element of physicality and toughness and grit and that’s what I’m going to bring.

On when he thinks he’ll arrive in Ottawa…

We’re just trying to figure out the travel plans but hopefully it’ll be sometime tomorrow.

There’s a lot there for Sens fans to be excited about as Kassian sounds pretty excited to be a member of the team. He’ll practice with the team on Thursday, and then travel to Buffalo for his first game in a Senator’s jersey on Saturday night.

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