Montreal Canadiens: Mattias Norlinder Called Up From Laval Rocket

The Montreal Canadiens lost Kirby Dach to injury in just the second game of the season. Other than that, they were faring quite well with injuries, especially when compared to the past two seasons.

For a couple of years it seemed like players were being knocked out of the lineup on a daily basis and that every single one of them became a worst case scenario. Day to day injuries often turned into long term absences and the team could hardly get through a practice without someone being sidelined.

This season seemed to be different for a while, but the injuries are beginning to pile up now. Many of them happen to be on the blue line as well.

David Savard is out long term and shouldn’t be back until the new year. Arber Xhekaj looked to be seriously hurt, but then it was announced he was day to day, but now we haven’t heard much in nearly a week. Jordan Harris also seemed to be a short term absence but his status was changed to out indefinitely and he is not heading on the team’s road trip.

So, the team has been forced to call up some reinforcements. Jayden Struble was recalled earlier this week, and the team announced this evening that Mattias Norlinder is also joining the NHL club.

Norlinder looked great in training camp and nearly made the Canadiens roster at the beginning of the season. The 23 year old is a great skater and it was hoped he would turn his excellent training camp into a breakout season with the Laval Rocket, but that hasn’t been the case. He has just two points in 14 games and has not been faring well in the defensive end either.

The Swedish defender played six games with the Canadiens in the 2021-22 season and played all of last season in the AHL with the Laval Rocket. He had 19 points in 67 games for the Rocket last season.

Hopefully he can recapture some of the magic that saw him succeed in training camp.