The Montreal Canadiens gathered together for the opening of training camp today. It was really just a media day and players were measured and tested off the ice, but the 2023 training camp is officially underway.
While the players did not hit the ice, there was some news to pass along, and not all of it was great news. One of the least helpful tidbits of information to come out of the days media meetings was that there is already a significant injury.
Christian Dvorak is still dealing with the effects of an injury suffered last season and will miss the start of the regular season. In fact, he has been ruled out until at least November.
Dvorak had knee surgery on March 15 after suffering an injury that would end his season. He had scored ten goals and 28 points in 64 games last season, his second with the Canadiens. The 27 year old center had 11 goals and 33 points in 56 games in 2021-22.
The rest of the Canadiens were healthy and accounted for as 72 players gathered in Montreal to begin training camp. While it is not great to have a player out for a chunk of the season before it even begins, considering how many players were injured last season, we should be thankful there is only one player remaining on the injured list.
With Dvorak out, the Canadiens could still go with Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach, Sean Monahan and Jake Evans down the middle of the ice and be comfortable in having four NHL caliber centers in the lineup.
Dvorak was acquired two years ago from the Arizona Coyotes for first and second round draft picks. He has not exactly proven the Habs to be the winners of that deal to this point, so hopefully he can get healthy and start producing more offense for the Canadiens this season.
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