Canadiens: Handful Of Players Out For Rest Of Season

NEWARK, NJ - MARCH 27: Jake Allen #34 of the Montreal Canadiens during warm up prior to the game against the New Jersey Devils on March 27, 2022 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - MARCH 27: Jake Allen #34 of the Montreal Canadiens during warm up prior to the game against the New Jersey Devils on March 27, 2022 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Getty Images)
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The Montreal Canadiens’ season can be summed up with many words. We’ll use one in particular for this article – ow!

The list of injured players yo-yo’d more than a…well..yo-yo. Just when you thought however that everyone would finally and come back and play together like one big happy family, the injury bug hits again.

The Canadiens sent out a series of tweets, as is their new standards in communicating with both fans and media alike, and updated us with the most up to date injury report.

TAMPA, FLORIDA – APRIL 02: Jake Allen #34 of the Montreal Canadiens stops a shot from Brayden Point #21 of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the third period during a game at Amalie Arena on April 02, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – APRIL 02: Jake Allen #34 of the Montreal Canadiens stops a shot from Brayden Point #21 of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the third period during a game at Amalie Arena on April 02, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

First off, Jake Allen is officially out for the season with what is officially now his third groin injury of the season.

Statistically, Allen had the worst season of his career. In 35 games he finishes with a 9-20-4 record to go along with a 3.30 goals against average tagged with a .905 save percentage. All career worst statistics except for the losses where the most he piled up was during the 2017-18 season where he had 25 losses in 59 games.

Allen was also in the middle of trade rumors heading into the trade deadline with persistent rumors that he was close to being traded to the Edmonton Oilers. With the surplus of goaltenders on the team once Carey Price returns, it will be interesting to see what the future of Allen will be.

NEWARK, NJ – MARCH 27: Justin Barron #52 of the Montreal Canadiens during warm up prior to the game against the New Jersey Devils on March 27, 2022 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ – MARCH 27: Justin Barron #52 of the Montreal Canadiens during warm up prior to the game against the New Jersey Devils on March 27, 2022 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Getty Images) /

The prized acquisition in the Artturi Lehkonen trade, Justin Barron ran into bad luck shortly after scoring his first NHL goal.

Barron attempted to prevent Mathieu Joseph of the Ottawa Senators from scoring into an empty net, but tweaked his ankle and was seen limping after the game. He has been seen walking with a boot but thankfully no surgery will be required.

The product of Halifax, Nova Scotia finished the season with one goal and an assist in 5 games with the Canadiens. He was also kept off the scoresheet in 2 games this season with the Colorado Avalanche.

He spent the bulk of the 2021-22 season with the Colorado Eagles of the AHL. There he amassed 5 goals and 15 assists for 20 points in 43 games.

With a strong training camp, Barron has a good chance of becoming a regular at the right side of the blue line as early as next season.

EDMONTON, AB – DECEMBER 26: Emil Heineman #13 of Sweden celebrates a goal against goaltender Nick Malik #30 of the Czech Republic during the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship at Rogers Place on December 26, 2020 in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)
EDMONTON, AB – DECEMBER 26: Emil Heineman #13 of Sweden celebrates a goal against goaltender Nick Malik #30 of the Czech Republic during the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship at Rogers Place on December 26, 2020 in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images) /

One of the pieces of the Tyler Toffoli trade has signed his entry-level contract a week ago with the Canadiens, but has yet to play a game. It seems that Heineman has been struggling with an upper body injury, and no timeline has been given for his return.

Since his rights were traded to Montreal, Heineman has elevated his game a notch and finished his season with Leksands IF of the SweHL in force. Playing a much more passionate game, he finished with 11 goals and 5 assists for 16 points in 38 games.

It would be surprising to see Heineman in a Habs uniform before the next training camp.

MONTREAL, QC – MARCH 21: Jonathan Drouin #92 of the Montreal Canadiens skates against the Boston Bruins during the first period at Centre Bell on March 21, 2022 in Montreal, Canada. The Boston Bruins defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC – MARCH 21: Jonathan Drouin #92 of the Montreal Canadiens skates against the Boston Bruins during the first period at Centre Bell on March 21, 2022 in Montreal, Canada. The Boston Bruins defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

Ken MacMillan had already reported this but here’s your yearly reminder that Jonathan Drouin is injured. Again.

The left winger had gone to New York for a second opinion on his ever nagging wrist injury, and in the end opted for surgery that will take him out of the lineup for the rest of the season.

Drouin will be in the middle of a million and one rumors once the NHL playoffs are completed. Going into the final year of his contract next season with a $5.5 million cap hit, it will be interesting to see if the Canadiens go one of three directions with him: Trade him, Buy him out, or give him one last chance.

Drouin finishes the year with 6 goals and 14 assists for 20 points in 34 games. He has not played a full season since the 2018-19 season where he tied his career high in points with 53.

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