Canucks' Kassian on injured pinky: 'They had to put it back together'
Injuries have limited Vancouver Canucks power forward Zack Kassian to just 17 games this season - 17 games in which he's mostly struggled to produce offense.
The 24-year-old seemed poised for a breakout campaign after he excelled down the stretch (even as the Canucks flailed about around him), but with two goals and five points on the year, that hasn't come to pass.
Kassian admitted on Monday that he's found the year frustrating, though he's trying to treat it as a learning experience.
"It's not a wash-out, you learn from it," Kassian told Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province.
He also described the finger injury that has sidelined him for much of December, which sounds pretty nasty.
"The finger had a tough go. A shot in the first and in the third - someone got under my stick and got my finger. You wouldn't think a little pinky finger would keep you out that long, but it was so displaced, they had to put it back together. It's still a little tough to shoot because there is still some irritation from where the pins were taken out.
"I've come in here with high expectations and I'm not using injuries as an excuse. I have to be better."
Kassian is expected to return after the NHL's Christmas break.