The Joel Teasdale injury is a major loss for the Montreal Canadiens
By Omar L
Montreal Canadiens Joel Teasdale had a solid season and looked as if he would continue that play at the pro level, but a knee injury will set that back.
When you think of who the best Montreal Canadiens prospects are, the usual names come up. TSN’s Craig Button has been giving the Habs system high praise all summer focusing mostly on Nick Suzuki, Ryan Poehling, Cayden Primeau, Cole Caufield, and Alexander Romanov (who he said will be a top-three defenceman in the NHL). Fans are desperately waiting for those five names to find their way on the team, but one prospect who isn’t talked about enough is Joel Teasdale.
Teasdale was signed to a three-year entry-level deal after an impressive performance at training camp. He came off 65-point performance the season before with Blainville and responded with a run of 19 goals and 19 assists in 37 games. The Rouyn-Noranda Huskies later made the trade to acquire Teasdale, and he performed at a higher rate with 42 points in 29 games.
The Huskies went on to win the President’s Trophy with Teasdale putting up 14 goals and 20 assists in 20 games along with the Memorial Cup in Halifax. Teasdale is a top prospect in the Habs system who isn’t talked about enough and would’ve been a dark horse player for the Laval Rocket next season in their journey to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016 as the St. Johns Ice Caps.
The downside to all of this is that Teasdale will be out for seven months.
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The news came from the team on Friday who said Teasdale tore ligaments in his MCL and ACL during an on-ice session. The Montreal Canadiens announced that surgery will be required which will put his professional debut on hold until at least March.
Andrew Zadarnowski made a good observation on Twitter that this will be the third Habs prospect who will miss the majority of the season with an injury.
Jeremiah Addison, a 2015 seventh-round pick, injured himself during the Rookie Tournament and had his Laval debut delayed. The Habs acquired Gustav Olofsson from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Will Bitten but was, unfortunately, shut down for the season. And now Teasdale will have to join the club.
It’s a shame given the kind of impact he could’ve had on the Laval Rocket. Teasdale plays a Brendan Gallagher-type game that is mixed with a hardworking grind and high-octane skill. Additionally, he is familiar with Rocket head coach Joel Bouchard which would’ve made the transition to the minors a lot smoother.
Laval is getting a boost regardless with Suzuki and possibly Poehling if things go unexpected; however, Teasdale would’ve been a difference-maker in the top six of the lineup. And who knows, injuries could always happen, and there could’ve been a window where Teasdale gets a call-up. The Montreal Canadiens have rewarded hardworking forwards with a midseason promotion in the last two seasons, and there’s no reason why Teasdale couldn’t have gotten the same treatment.
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It’ll be a waiting game for Teasdale to perform in the pros. On the bright side, Addison scored in his first game back from injury. It’ll be interesting to see what Teasdale can accomplish once he steps on the ice.