Zack Kassian of Montreal Canadiens suspended without pay after car crash

Montreal Canadiens forward Zack Kassian, who broke his nose and his left foot in a car crash over the weekend, has been suspended without pay and placed in the league's substance abuse program.

The National Hockey League released a statement late Monday.

"Zack Kassian of the Montreal Canadiens has been placed in Stage Two of the Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program (SABH) of the NHL and NHLPA," the statement said. 

"Under the terms of the joint program, Kassian will be suspended without pay until cleared for on-ice competition by the program administrators."

Kassian was injured early Sunday morning when the truck in which he was a passenger crashed into a tree.

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The Montreal Canadiens' general manager, Marc Bergevin, confirmed the extent of the right-winger's injuries Monday.

The circumstances of the accident show "a lack of character and judgment" on the 24-year old Kassian's part, Bergevin said.

Kassian was acquired in the off-season in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks for fan favourite Brandon Prust.

The accident happened on Sunday morning near the corner of Clanranald Avenue and Côte St-Luc Road in Montreal's Notre-Dame-de-Grâce neighbourhood. A black truck smashed into a tree, and a witness saw Kassian step out.

The witness said on Twitter that Kassian was "bloodied and dazed" when he left the vehicle.

Const. Manuel Couture said the 20-year-old woman driving the vehicle may have been drinking. Police are waiting for blood sample results.

There was also an 18-year-old woman in the vehicle at the time of the collision.