Bad News If You Rushed Out To Buy A #28 Matt Kassian Jersey...

NHL enforcer Matt Kassian is a fighter and does not back down. Except for when it comes to numbers.



The Wild forward, who re-signed for two years last month, is giving newly signed Zenon Konopka his number 28 to wear according to Kassian and Minnesota equipment manager Tony Da Costa. From Twitter:

Wild # update Kassian will wear #42Konopka #28, Dowell #18, Mitchell #17And of course Parise #11,Suter #20#can'twaittogetgoing
— Styleswild (@styleswild) July 18, 2012

Zenon signed a two-year, $1.85 million contract on July 1 as part of a Wild free agent class that includes Ryan Suter, Zach Parise and Torrey Mitchell.

One constant for Konopka in a span that has seen the forward go through four different organizations in five years has been #28. The 31 year-old even wore it when he fought Kassian last year (see above). While the battle over #28 between the two teammates wasn't as good as that fight, it ended peacefully; as all scraps between teammates should.

Kassian will instead wear #42, the number he wore with the Houston Aeros.