The top pick from the 2022 draft, Juraj Slafkovsky, was on the ice for a solo session before Tuesday's optional practice but left once the rest of the team joined for the main skate. He will now miss at least one week or more with an injury.
The Canadiens have not revealed precisely when Slafkovsky was injured, but he did leave early from practice last Friday and was a question mark for Saturday's game against the New York Islanders, although he ended up playing.
This season to date, the 20-year-old winger has amassed a goal and five assists in six games while having been deployed with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield.
Head Coach Martin St. Louis announced Kirby Dach would move onto the first line, with Olivier Kapanen taking Dach's spot on the second line for their matchup against the New York Rangers.
The Canadiens also announced Mike Pezzetta will make his season debut Tuesday. The 26-year-old played in 61 games for the Canadiens last season, notching three goals and 12 points.
The season started off on a positive note for the Habs when they shutout the Leafs 1-0, however it has since started to derail as the team faces a mounting amount of injuries. Who can forget how it all started, when Patrik Laine went down in a meaningless preseason game.
POLL | ||
Do you believe Juraj Slafkovsky will miss more than one week? | ||
Yes | 63 | 85.1 % |
No | 11 | 14.9 % |
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