Canadiens Make Two Emergency Recalls, Injury Bug Remains

The Montreal Canadiens made two emergency recalls on Thursday, signalling that the return of injured veterans could take a little longer than expected.

When Jesse Ylönen and Alex Belzile weren’t on the ice for practice in Laval on Thursday morning, you just knew something was up.

The two players, who had spent a good chunk of the month of January with the Montreal Canadiens, were sent down to the Laval Rocket for more playing time, while Montreal went into a ten-day break.

The aforementioned forwards were then emergency recalled again this morning, which would hint that the Canadiens are still in a precarious situation when it comes to the health of their veteran forwards.

Lingering Issues

The expectation was that Jonathan Drouin and Joel Armia, who had begun skating prior to the Canadiens’ break, would return shortly after the All-Star break. However, with the recall of Ylönen and Belzile, it would lead one to assume that neither is ready to suit up for a game; at least not as of today.

Jonathan Drouin was at Canadiens practice however, so it could very well be that his return is imminent; making the recall  more of an insurance policy. Joel Armia was not as lucky however and missed practice, showing signs that he may indeed need more time.

The Canadiens return to play in a back-to-back situation against the New York Islanders and Edmonton Oilers this weekend. There’s still time for the situation to turn around, but, it wouldn’t be outlandish to think that Drouin or Armia need to get a few more practices in them, where contact is permitted, in order to be ready to jump into game shape.

Then comes the more grim situations.

With pictures surfacing of Brendan Gallagher still walking around in a walking boot during his vacation this week, it’s safe to say he isn’t expected to return to play any time soon. His original prognosis had him returning sometime around the NHL Trade Deadline at the end of February.

Although I’m not a medical professional, I would say the chances of that timetable being delayed are much higher than we initially thought.

Then lastly, we have the case of Sean Monahan, who hasn’t practiced in over three weeks and whose status remains up in the air at the moment.

The veteran centre has been dealing with a lower-body injury since the first week of December, and his return to play has been delayed a few times already this season.

Canadiens management and fans eagerly await news on his prognosis, as his health will directly impact Montreal’s plans for the NHL Trade Deadline.

Injury Brings Opportunity

However, as head coach Martin St-Louis has said a few times over the last stretch of games, injuries bring about opportunities for younger players to make a statement.

That’s exactly what Rafaël Harvey-Pinard did when he was recalled by the Canadiens late last month; potting five goals and one assists for six points in seven games.

The 24-year-old is using this opportunity to convince general manager Kent Hughes and the Canadiens that he must be included in the future plans for the team.

Even defenceman Justin Barron has shown some great things on the ice since being recalled shortly after Christmas.

The 21-year-old defenceman remains on the Canadiens’ roster, as they await word on the health of Joel Edmundson.

A player like Ylönen, for example, has that very same opportunity, as he will be subject to waivers as soon as next season; making it imperative that he take advantage of the situation and give more.

He’s had some good games so far this season, but, to truly convince Montreal Canadiens management that he’s ready for the jump to full-time NHL duty, he’s going to have to take it up a notch.