The Montreal Canadiens experienced more misfortune as third-year winger Rafael Harvey-Pinard underwent successful surgery on July 26 to repair a broken leg. He is expected to miss four months, targeting a return around American Thanksgiving.
L’attaquant Rafaël Harvey-Pinard a subi jeudi une intervention chirurgicale à la suite d’une fracture à une jambe. La période de convalescence prévue pour l'ailier de 25 ans est d’une durée de quatre mois.
Forward Rafaël Harvey-Pinard underwent successful surgery on Thursday… pic.twitter.com/3MdlacZbks
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) July 26, 2024
Harvey-Pinard, limited to 45 games during the 2023-24 season due to various lower-body injuries, finished with 2 goals and 8 assists, averaging 12:38 of ice time per game.
In an official statement, the Canadiens announced, “Forward Rafael Harvey-Pinard underwent successful surgery on Thursday after suffering a broken leg. The recovery period for the 25-year-old winger is estimated to be four months.”
To cover his absence, prospects like Owen Beck, Filip Mesar, and Johua Roys may have a chance to join the opening night roster. Additionally, players like Michael Pezzetta might see increased ice time early in the season.
Harvey-Pinard is expected to be placed on long-term injured reserve, providing cap relief for the Canadiens, as his $1.1 million cap hit won’t count until his return. This IR placement will offer the team roster flexibility to manage the start of the season without him.
Canadiens’ Havery-Pinard Struggles with Injuries
Rafaël Harvey-Pinard will miss four to six weeks with a lower-body injury. Jordan Harris is day-to-day with an upper-body injury, while Kaiden Guhle is still being evaluated.
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) February 11, 2024
The Canadiens selected 25-year-old Harvey-Pinard with the 201st pick in the seventh round of the 2019 NHL draft. Since then, he has made steady progress, gaining experience in the QMJHL and the AHL.
L’attaquant Rafaël Harvey-Pinard ratera de six à huit semaines d’activités en raison d’une blessure au bas du corps.
Forward Rafaël Harvey-Pinard will be sidelined for six to eight weeks with a lower-body injury.
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) November 21, 2023
In his junior career in the QMJHL, Harvey-Pinard averaged 1.06 points per game over five seasons. In the AHL, he maintained a 0.74 points per game average and led the Laval Rocket in scoring during the 2021-22 season with 56 points in 69 games.
Canadiens Offseason Activity Still Developing
The Canadiens had a relatively uneventful free agency period in 2024, as the franchise is focusing more on future success than immediate results. This strategy aligns with their 2024 season performance, where they only secured 30 wins and finished last in their division.
Juraj Slafkovsky is here to stay in MTL 🙌
Read ↓ #GoHabsGohttps://t.co/mpvOytM0QP
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) July 2, 2024
A significant move this offseason was extending 2022 No. 1 pick Juraj Slafkovsky’s contract to an eight-year, $60.8 million deal. In 2024, he notched 20 goals, 30 assists, and a total of 50 points.
“I love Montreal and I feel like we are on a good path,” Slafkovsky told NHL.com on July 2. “I just wanted to be part of it as long as I can.”
Other than Slafkovsky’s extension, the Canadiens’ only notable signing was Alex Barré-Boulet to a one-year, $775,000 contract, though he has yet to make his NHL debut.
In the 2024 draft, with a top pick again, the Canadiens selected Ivan Demidov at No. 5 overall, adding him to a promising prospect pipeline that includes David Reinbacher and Lane Hutson.
The Canadiens may still seek to improve their roster via trade before the next season. One widely discussed option is acquiring veteran winger Patrik Laine from the Columbus Blue Jackets. A proposed trade on PuckGM suggests the Canadiens could get Laine in exchange for two prospects and two non-first-round draft picks.
Marc Dumont of Montreal Hockey Now and Jim Parsons of NHL Trade Talk discussed the potential trade on July 26, both agreeing that Laine would be a perfect fit for the Canadiens and could be acquired at a reasonable cost.
Be the first to comment