Montreal Canadiens: What can come out of an Alex Galchenyuk injury
By Omar L
In a season where injuries are as common as leaves on a tree, the Montreal Canadiens may be without Alex Galchenyuk next as he has issues with his hand.
________ is out with an injury. The Montreal Canadiens have made use of that sentence more often than not this season and many names have filled in that blank. Brendan Gallagher and Paul Byron were missing from team practice yesterday in Brossard, but the team mentioned that they were just therapy days. Why do they need a day off? The list of reasons could go on and on where an injury isn’t the only possibility.
However, Alex Galchenyuk is a different story. The 24-year-old left practice early with an apparent hand injury. According to Eric Engels, Galchenyuk will be re-evaluated today and is still a possibility to play against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
If that’s the case, then it may not be a full-blown injury to his hand but just a tweak. It could’ve even been a cramp that had Galchenyuk bow out early. We’ll have to wait to get an update from the Montreal Canadiens on the forward’s status ahead of the game.
But say he is injured and has to sit out for a few, what happens then? A spot opens up on Jacob de La Rose‘s left which could either go to Charles Hudon or even Daniel Carr. Byron Froese would draw back into the lineup leaving him or Michael McCarron to centre the fourth line.
It would be a definite blow to the Habs pool of skill up front and hurt Galchenyuk’s chances of at least hitting 50 points, assuming it keeps him out long. The obvious reaction to him being out of the lineup is bittersweet happiness as it makes the Montreal Canadiens a weaker team. That leads to even fewer offensive opportunities and more losses. Granted, Carey Price could have something to say about that and steal games for the Habs in the final stretch, but that’s what it appears to be right now.
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Galchenyuk’s growth this season was something nice to pay attention to so it’ll be disappointing to see him out of the lineup. However, it could open the door for a call-up who fans have wanted for a while now in Kerby Rychel who is a left-winger in the AHL.
Rychel is hovering near a point-per-game since joining the Laval Rocket with six goals and three assists in ten games. He’s been an effective and energetic option in Laval, and well worth the chance to get a look with the Habs at some point. Rinat Valiev already got an NHL opportunity in Montreal, be it a short one, there’s no reason why Rychel shouldn’t.
Keep in mind, all these possibilities and what-ifs play out if Galchenyuk can’t play. Consider them worst-case scenarios. But seeing Rychel would be good and most importantly, another quarter into the Montreal Canadiens youth movement jar.
Next: Next Season Will Be Better
Do you think Galchenyuk will be another Habs player to miss time with injury? Should Rychel get called up if that happens? Let us know in the comments below.