Rookie forward Juraj Slafkovsky’s season is likely over, as the Montreal Canadiens have announced he will be sidelined for three months with a lower-body injury.
The Canadian clarified that the 18-year-old Slovak will not be operated. The nature of the injury was not mentioned.
Slafkovsky did not finish Sunday’s game against the New York Rangers. He left in the third period after being contacted by defender Ben Harpur and seemed unable to put weight on his left leg.
Selected first overall in the last NHL Draft, Slafkovsky has four goals and six assists in 39 games this season.
Since Slafkovsky’s absence is scheduled for three months and the Canadiens’ season will end on April 12, everything indicates that his first NHL campaign is over.
The Canadian also announced that forward Jake Evans will miss eight to 10 weeks of action. He is also struggling with a lower body injury that does not require surgery.
Evans also appeared to injure his left leg when New York Islanders forward Brock Nelson fell on him late in the first period of Saturday’s game.
The 26-year-old American has two goals and nine assists in 43 games this season.
The Habs also said forwards Joel Armia (upper body) and Jonathan Drouin (upper body) will be out at least until the return from the All-Star Game break on Feb. 11 against the Islanders.
Armia fell in action after receiving a blow from Jacob Trouba in the ribs on Sunday against the New York Rangers. Drouin missed Tuesday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets and no details about the nature of the injury or when he suffered it have not been provided.
As for goaltender Jake Allen, the Canadiens said he still has at least a week to recover from an upper-body injury.
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