Canadiens’ Nick Suzuki sidelined for 2 weeks with lower-body harm

Article content material

Coaching camp solely began on Wednesday for the Canadiens when gamers reported to the Bell Sports activities Complicated in Brossard for medical and bodily testing, however they have already got harm issues.

Article content material

The workforce introduced Thursday morning, shortly after gamers hit the ice for the primary time, that new captain Nick Suzuki shall be sidelined for 2 weeks with a lower-body harm.

Article content material

Veteran defenceman Joel Edmundson, an assistant captain, additionally has a lower-body harm and is out for an undetermined period of time.

Forwards Josh Anderson and Jake Evans each have upper-body accidents and are listed as day-to-day.

Carey Value (knee), Paul Byron (hip) and Sean Monahan (hip) are additionally coping with accidents that had been already identified about. Value just isn’t anticipated to play this season and has been positioned on the long-term injured reserve listing.

Final season the Canadiens set an NHL report with 731 man-games misplaced to harm whereas ending final within the general NHL standings with a 22-49-11 report.

Article content material

Head coach Martin St. Louis stated Suzuki suffered his harm throughout low season coaching.

“It’s nonetheless a terrific vibe,” defenceman Chris Wideman stated when requested what sort of influence the newest harm information could have on the ambiance at coaching camp. “Wanting ahead to a very good camp, wanting ahead to pushing and being prepared for the primary recreation of the common season. I don’t precisely know what’s occurring with Nick, however nothing that we’re tremendous frightened about.”

Suzuki was the one participant on the Canadiens to play in all 82 video games final season and he led the workforce in scoring with 21-40-61 totals. The Canadiens named Suzuki as their new captain on the workforce’s golf match on Sept. 12 and the 23-year-old centre is heading into the primary season of an eight-year, US$63-million contract with an annual salary-cap hit of $7.875 million.

Article content material

Edmundson and Brendan Gallagher had been named assistant captains on the golf match. At the moment, Edmundson stated he was wholesome.

“I didn’t golf a lot this summer season, however that had nothing to do with the again,” Edmundson stated on the golf match. “Again feels good. Truly, I used to be out taking part in yesterday. I can hit the ball far and lengthy. There’s no points with the again and I’m simply excited for a wholesome season this 12 months.”

Edmundson was restricted to 24 video games final season due to a again harm. He was listed as day-to-day when coaching camp began final 12 months, however didn’t make his season debut till March 12. When St. Louis was requested if it was a again downside once more with Edmundson, the coach would solely say it was a lower-body harm.

Article content material

“We don’t have sufficient data proper now to make that call,” St. Louis stated when requested if the newest harm was associated to Edmundson’s again issues.

“You don’t know the seriousness of it,” Gallagher stated when requested about Edmundson’s harm. “You hope it’s only a minor factor and he’ll be again. However for him, what he went by way of to be in that place proper now’s robust. He’s an enormous a part of our workforce and a vital a part of the locker room as properly. So hopefully we are able to get Eddie wholesome and able to do what he does so properly for us. You attempt to assist him, be a very good teammate and preserve him concerned. However you understand it’s most likely not enjoyable for him proper now.”

When Wideman was requested about Edmundson, he stated: “I simply want him the perfect. From a private standpoint, shut pal and a terrific teammate and a giant a part of this workforce on and off the ice. We hope that it’s a fast restoration and he’ll be on the market with us as quickly as attainable.”

The Canadiens will open the common season on Oct. 12 when the Toronto Maple Leafs go to the Bell Centre.

scowan@postmedia.com

twitter.com/StuCowan1