Montreal Canadiens: Injury Updates From Practice

The Montreal Canadiens have a had their fair share of injuries so far this season, and we got updates on a few of them after practice.

Injuries are something that every team has to go through to some extent every year. The Montreal Canadiens haven’t lost as many players as say the Anaheim Ducks or Boston Bruins (knocks on wood), but they have a handful who will be sitting out. Fortunately, fans got a few updates from some of them after Wednesday’s practice.

The Low-Risk, High-Reward Signing

Ales Hemsky has been out of the lineup since the 6-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. He was later diagnosed with a concussion and hasn’t played a game since. Hemsky is still on injured reserve, but considering how much concussion-like symptoms vary between individuals, there’s no way of telling when he will come back.

Games Missed: 8

Fans Want Scher-Back

Michael McCarron and Nikita Scherbak were both recalled after the Habs learned Hemsky would be missing time. Unfortunately, Scherbak only played in two games with the Montreal Canadiens before suffering a lower-body injury. The 21-year-old is still on injured reserve after receiving knee surgery last week. It will be at least be another five weeks before Habs fans hope to see Scherbak retake the ice.

Games Missed: 6

Canadiens de Lupul

That may be too harsh of a joke, but you get where I was going with that right? David Schlemko has yet to play a single game for the Montreal Canadiens since being claimed from the Vegas Golden Knights over the offseason. It’s been an injury to his hand sustained sometime in the preseason that’s kept Schlemko out.

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He was well enough to play a conditioning game with the Laval Rocket assisting on Daniel Carr‘s hat-trick overtime winner. Schlemko told media afterward that conditioning was an issue in the opening minutes of the game, but he found his legs as the night went out. Unfortunately, the injury to his hand got worse, so much so that he required surgery to remove a bone fragment from it.

His 3-4 week recovery window from the repairs is approaching, and Schlemko is already getting back on the ice.

We’ll have to see when Claude Julien decides to give him a look once he reaches 100%. It may be difficult to change things in the lineup though considering how much players on the blueline have improved lately.

Games Missed: All of them

It’ll Be Pricey

It’s funny how times are different. A Carey Price injury would send the fan base into complete chaos, but Charlie Lindgren has done an outstanding job holding down the fort. We learned that Price was dealing with a minor lower-body injury unrelated to his previous knee problems.

The Habs initially thought he would only miss Saturday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets, but with how well goaltending has been as of late, there’s no reason to rush him back. However, seeing him take the ice at practice was a good sign.

Games Missed: 3

Related Story: What To Do With Lindgren

We Hope They’re Drouin Okay

Jonathan Drouin missed practice this morning dealing with an upper-body injury that we know now to be on his hand. Andrew Shaw was given a maintenance day as well. Julien told media that there is a 50/50 chance that either of them plays Thursday against the Minnesota Wild.

Considering how often Drouin handles the puck on a nightly basis, it may be best to let him sit that one out. Slashing has been called a lot this season, but a simple tap on the glove could make a deep bruise (assuming that’s what it is) a lot worse.

Next: Galchenyuk Playing At Center

Who are you excited to see come back from injury the most? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.