Report: Several teams 'doing background' on Canadiens' Kassian

It appears the Montreal Canadiens have a reason for asking Zack Kassian to hold off on heading to the AHL.

Related: Canadiens ask Kassian to not report to AHL 'until further notice'

"(Canadiens general manager) Marc Bergevin has seemed confident that he could make a trade here and there's a number of teams (that) are doing background on Kassian to see if (he's) somebody they're interested in acquiring," Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported during Saturday's edition of "Headlines."

Friedman added that the San Jose Sharks could be among those interested because Sharks assistant coach Bob Boughner coached Kassian with the OHL's Windsor Spitfires in 2009-10.

Kassian was assigned to St. John's after clearing waivers last week, and recently entered the follow-up phase of the NHL's Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program.

The 24-year-old broke his foot in a car accident in September.

He was acquired by the Canadiens in an offseason trade with the Vancouver Canucks for Brandon Prust, but Kassian has yet to play a game for Montreal.