Montreal Canadiens: Even More Injuries to Report

At this point, I should just create a template to make these injuries easier to report. On Monday, the Canadiens announced more players would miss the remainder of the season due to injuries, adding to the already ridiculous total. This time, it’s forwards Sean Monahan and Alex Belzile.

Sean Monahan Underwent Groin Surgery

Habs fans were left in the dark for a while regarding Sean Monahan and his health, but we finally have an update. Monahan hasn’t played since December 5th, leaving that game versus the Canucks midway through the game, never returning. And now we finally know Monahan’s season is done.

It’s a little odd to see a decision made now instead of much earlier. My best guess is that the Canadiens wanted to see if he could avoid surgery, before it became apparent that this wasn’t going to be an option. It’s really unfortunate to see, as injuries have plagued Monahan’s career, especially over the last few seasons.

I suppose the one piece of good news surrounding the injury is that it has nothing to do with his hip, which was the primary area of concern heading into the season. Monahan had 17 points in 25 games before the injury and was playing some really great hockey. The hope was the Canadiens, who acquired a first-round pick from Calgary for taking on his contract, could flip him at the trade deadline for additional compensation. But, as has been a theme all season long, injuries derailed those plans.

It’ll be interesting to see if the Canadiens will look to re-sign Monahan, a pending UFA, this off-season. I think he can still contribute when healthy, but there seems to be a considerable risk with him, given the many injuries he has suffered already in his career. The Canadiens could give him a one-year deal, but it might be better to use the money elsewhere. With how many injuries the Habs have had this season, investing in players with injury risk doesn’t seem like a good plan. Still, I wouldn’t hate a one-year deal at a reasonable price.

Alex Belzile Fractured His Leg

Alex Belzile was a great story for the Habs. A local kid, chipping away in the minors before finally getting his shot and making the most of it. Unfortunately, Belzile will not get to finish the season on his own terms. Belzile will miss the remainder of the year with a fractured leg, which I believe he sustained blocking a shot during Saturday night’s loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.

Belzile had 14 points in 31 games prior to the injury and was providing the Canadiens with reasonable production in a bottom-six role. With Belzile being out, he joins a lengthy list of players out for the remainder of the season, all due to injuries.

While some of the injuries are a product of shutting down players during a lost season, I think both Monahan and Belzile are not that. These seem like injuries that could not be played through, which is unfortunate. Belzile, like Monahan, is a pending UFA and, as such, will need a new contract for next season. It’ll be interesting to see if the Canadiens want to give him one.

Belzile has played well, but at 31, the Canadiens might prefer to give his spot on the roster to a younger player with more of a future with the organization. Belzile did start the year in Laval and was named Captain there, but the forward at this point likely has NHL aspirations, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he tested the market if Montreal can’t promise him a role here. It should be interesting to see how that plays out.

Some Good News

How about a nice little pick-me-up on the injuries front? Cole Caufield returned to the ice Monday morning for the first time since he underwent season-ending shoulder surgery.  While the Habs’ leading goal scorer still won’t return this year, it’s nice to see him back on the ice, indicating that he’s progressing nicely in his recovery.

Of course, Cole Caufield’s contract negotiation is a major storyline to watch as we head into the off-season. Hopefully, the Canadiens can get that done soon. We’ve talked extensively about injuries this season, and the hope is that next season isn’t so bad. Going through a rebuild is hard enough. Doing so when most of the young talent is out for the year is borderline unbearable.

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