The injury plague continues for the Montreal Canadiens: Here’s what we know!

Young offensive defenseman Bryce Pickford, considered one of the Montreal Canadiens’ most intriguing prospects, is currently recovering from shoulder surgery. Sidelined since late September, he still has no official return date. This injury prevented him from participating in the Canadiens’ rookie camp and is now delaying his professional debut in the American Hockey League.

Known for his well above-average offensive skills, Pickford possesses several strengths that could allow him to make an impact with the Laval Rocket. He is a young defenseman with particularly promising potential, and his professional debut is eagerly anticipated. It remains to be seen when he’ll finally be able to showcase the full extent of his talent!

Laval Rocket captain Lucas Condotta remains sidelined after suffering an injury during the Montreal Canadiens’ training camp. Sidelined since late September, the forward remains on the injured list, and no official return date has been announced. His absence is certainly being felt in Laval, as he is a key part of the team thanks to his leadership, physicality, and reliability at center—particularly in the faceoff circle.

His injury also complicates the Canadiens’ roster management, as Condotta would normally have to clear waivers before rejoining the Rocket. A return that would certainly be welcomed by the Laval organization!

Things certainly aren’t going as planned for Samuel Montembeault, who suffered a lower-body injury during practice. On October 9, the Canadiens announced that the Quebec-born goaltender would be sidelined for 10 to 14 days, suggesting a return between October 19 and 23.

Unfortunately for Montembeault, this injury prevented him from making the start he was slated for. Meanwhile, young Jacob Fowler is taking full advantage of this opportunity to prove himself. Shining in his recent outings, Fowler is showing that he’s ready to take on more responsibility—a situation that could complicate things for Montembeault when he returns!

The Montreal Canadiens are currently dealing with the absence of Ivan Demidov, who is sidelined with a lower-body injury. On October 6, the organization announced that the young Russian forward would be out for two to four weeks, suggesting a return in late October or early November.

In fact, something seemed off during the two games he played this season. Despite scoring a goal, Demidov appeared less comfortable on the ice, as if he were physically uncomfortable. His absence is already being felt within Montreal’s offense, which could really use his creativity and offensive talent. We can’t wait for him to return and bring some energy back to the team!

The Montreal Canadiens are also dealing with the absence of Oliver Kapanen, who is sidelined with a lower-body injury. The young Finnish forward has yet to play a game since the start of the 2026–2027 season, and no official timeline has been announced regarding his return to action. There are, however, some encouraging signs, as Kapanen has recently resumed skating and practicing with his teammates.

Nevertheless, he has also had to undergo treatment and has missed some practice sessions. His health status therefore remains a matter to monitor closely. With about 20 goals scored last season, Kapanen could certainly provide a much-needed boost to Montreal’s offense.

After successfully convincing the Montreal Canadiens’ management to make room for him on the roster, Florian Xhekaj must now deal with an injury whose nature remains unknown. Out since October 10, the young forward still has no official timeline for his return to play.

Known for his physical style, intensity, and ability to deliver hard hits, Xhekaj plays a particularly physically demanding brand of hockey—a style that obviously leaves him more vulnerable to injury. It’s a shame for a player who had managed to carve out a spot on the big team early in the season. It remains to be seen when he’ll be able to reclaim his spot and bring his energy back to the Montreal lineup.

The Montreal Canadiens will also have to make do without Mike Matheson, who is reportedly dealing with a lower-body injury. The Quebec-born defenseman, whose condition is being evaluated daily, has missed his team’s last two games. Given his tougher-than-usual start to the season, has Matheson been hiding an injury for some time?

It’s a possibility, but nothing has been confirmed on that front. One thing is certain: his absence represents a significant loss for Montreal’s defensive corps. Accustomed to logging heavy minutes and shouldering multiple responsibilities, Matheson leaves a considerable void. Until he returns, Lane Hutson, Kaiden Guhle, Alexandre Carrier, and the rest of the group will have to step up!

Juraj Slafkovský’s health is raising some concerns among Montreal Canadiens fans. During the last playoffs, the towering Slovakian took a hard hit from Max Crozier of the Tampa Bay Lightning, fueling fears of a possible concussion—which the organization never confirmed. More recently, Slafkovský suffered an accidental blow to the head involving Tom Wilson during a game against the Washington Capitals.

Although he returned to the game, many fans expressed their concerns on social media. His difficult start to the season adds to the speculation, though it does not constitute proof of an injury. For now, no concussion has been officially announced. His condition therefore remains a topic of discussion.