The Montreal Canadiens announced on Tuesday that the seasons of goaltender Jake Allen and recently acquired defenseman Justin Barron are over.
Jake Allen suffered a groin injury — a different injury than the one that sidelined him for eight weeks earlier this winter, according to interim head coach Martin St-Louis — on Saturday last against the Toronto Maple Leafs. As a result, he will not return to play by the end of the schedule, the Montreal organization said. However, he will not have to go under the knife, it was said, and will be ready in time for the next training camp.
“It’s valuable that he’s injured and that his season is over, but he gave us very good hockey after his return to play. He kept us in games, helped us win games. And it allowed me to see his level of play, and it was impressive, ”admitted the Quebecer.
Defenseman Justin Barron’s season is also over with an ankle injury. Barron, who was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche at the trade deadline for Artturi Lehkonen, was injured in the final moments of last week’s game against the Ottawa Senators after the attacker Mathieu Joseph accidentally fell in his legs. However, he will be ready for training camp, assured the Habs.
Asked about the possibility that this injury thwarts the Bleu-blanc-rouge plan for Barron, who could have played during the Laval Rocket’s playoff run this spring, St-Louis offered a very balanced answer. ” Yes it’s sure. But in life, you only have to control what you can control. We can’t control the circumstances with “JB”, but I’m happy with what we saw in this small sample [de cinq matchs]. And it is this sample that will help him this summer and in training camp. It’s part of the “game”. »
Meanwhile, prospect Emil Heineman, who recently signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Habs after being acquired from the Calgary Flames in exchange for Tyler Toffoli, is in Montreal receiving treatment for a upper body. His absence will be indefinite, meaning he likely won’t be able to make the Rocket’s playoff run.