But it was the muscle injury at the beginning that threw his season off the rails. Zegras said the lower-body issue that originally forced him out for six weeks across November and December was osteitis pubis, which the Cleveland Clinic states is inflammation of the joint between the left and right pubic bones that can cause groin and abdominal pain.
San Jose Sharks captain
Logan Couture had a severe case of it that rendered him inactive for all but six games this season.
It could be one reason why the offense and point production that Zegras normally gives the Ducks was virtually nonexistent before he was shut down. He had one goal and one assist in 12 games. The push by first-year head coach Greg Cronin to improve his defensive game played a role in suppressing his offense, but his absence made it apparent that he wasn’t at full strength.
“That’s a bit of a grind to go through,” Zegras said. “For hockey players, your groins are obviously very important. And I don’t want to say breaking my ankle was a blessing in disguise, but it gave me time to fully recover on the groin front. I’d say now it’s probably the closest I’ve felt to 100 percent. I’d say it’s a pretty good feeling.
