Montreal Canadiens: Injuries Derailed Joel Teasdale’s Potential Habs Career

The Montreal Canadiens invited Joel Teasdale to rookie camp and eventually signed him to an entry-level contract in September of 2018.

Though he was not selected in the NHL Draft, Teasdale had an impressive package of size and skill and had scored 32 goals and 65 points in 65 games for the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in his 18 year old season.

He also stood 5’11” and 218 pounds and was every bit the physical presence that his size would suggest. His skating was never his biggest strength but he was smart and quick enough to get where he needed to go and let the opposing team feel some pain when he got there. He never backed down from a chance to finish a clean body check on an opposing defenseman.

After signing with the Canadiens, Teasdale was sent back to Junior and completed his QMJHL career with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. He would score 43 goals and 80 points in 66 regular season games and helped the Huskies win a QMJHL championship by putting up 14 goals and 34 points in 20 playoff games.

He also had four goals and five points in five games at the Memorial Cup that year, leading Rouyn-Noranda to a tournament victory and being named MVP in the process.

His pro career was set to begin in 2019-20, and he appeared ready to contribute at the AHL level with the Laval Rocket right away, but it was not to be. He blew his knee out training for that season and missed the entire 2019-20 campaign with the injury.

He did return for the odd and shortened 2020-21 season, and played well, scoring eight goals and 18 points in just 26 games, but then he re-injured his knee and was out long term once again. He would miss the remainder of that season as well as the beginning of the 2021-22 season.

He finally returned in late January and took some time to get going, but finished the season strong with 23 points in his final 25 games.

Last season was finally his first healthy season in his pro career. After three years where he played zero, 26 and 44 games, he was on the ice for a total of 60 games in 2022-23. Most impressively was a well-earned late season call up to the Montreal Canadiens lineup for a pair of games.

In his 58 games with the Rocket last season, he scored 23 goals and 38 points. He added an assist, his first NHL point, in his two game audition with the Habs. It was good to see him finally (mostly) healthy in his fourth pro campaign, and 23 goals in 58 games is an impressive number at the AHL level.

However, the 24 year old native of Repentigny, Quebec will be leaving his home province to continue his professional development next season.

Earlier this month, Teasdale signed a one-year, one-way AHL contract with the Iowa Wild for the upcoming season. With his skill, size and experience, he could be a huge asset for them in the minor leagues.

He is not so old that he should be written off from having an NHL career down the road, but it was unfortunate that injuries derailed what could have been a long-time valuable member of the Canadiens bottom six and a great feel-good story earning his role after being an undrafted rookie camp invitee.

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