The Montreal Canadiens have battled injuries this season, much like every other team in the league, but it seems they are piling up in Montreal once again.
The past two seasons, well three now, have seen an unbelievable number of Canadiens players miss time with injuries that almost always end up resulting in longer absences than expected. That trend has continued this season, though it hasn't been quite as stark, but the team is getting pretty thin at center ice right now.
Kirby Dach was injured in the team's second game of the year and has not played since. Christian Dvorak was out at the start of the season, returned for 25 games and was then injured for the rest of the season. Alex Newhook has played some center, but probably plays better on the wing, and missed significant time with injury himself.
The team also traded away Sean Monahan to the Winnipeg Jets for a first round pick. This was the right move as a rebuilding team always shuffles out pending free agents for future assets, but it has now left the team pretty thin at center ice.
So thin, they acquired Colin White off waivers in February to add some depth down the middle. The former first round pick suited up for five games with the Canadiens, adding a reliable presence as the team's fourth line center, but he has also been shaken up.
White crashed into a net at practice yesterday, and the team announced this evening that he is day to day with an upper body injury and will not play tonight against the Nashville Predators. That leaves the team with just Nick Suzuki, Alex Newhook and Jake Evans as natural centers.
It will be interesting to see who steps into the lineup for White, though Rafael Harvey-Pinard is likely ready. He might even have to play some center ice tonight as the Canadiens don't have any other options.