NHL: Carolina Hurricanes at Montreal Canadiens - Source: Imagn — The Montreal Canadiens will not have Rafael Harvey-Pinard at the start of next season due to injury. (image credit: IMAGN)

Rafael Harvey-Pinard injury: Canadiens receive devastating update on winger's availability for start of upcoming season

Modified Jul 26, 2024 17:15 GMT

The Montreal Canadiens received bad news about forward Rafael Harvey-Pinard after he had surgery on Thursday to fix a broken leg. While his surgery was successful, the team announced on Friday that his recovery would take four months.

Montreal Canadiens took to X, to share the update with fans:

"Forward Rafaël Harvey-Pinard underwent successful surgery on Thursday after suffering a broken leg. The recovery period for the 25-year-old winger is estimated to be four months."

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Harvey-Pinard got hurt during a summer scrimmage which would mean that he will miss the start of the 2024-25 season as the Canadiens' first game is scheduled on October 9 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Last season, Harvey-Pinard played 45 games and scored two goals with eight assists. The previous season, he had 14 goals and six assists in 34 games with the Canadiens after being called up from the AHL's Laval Rocket.

The Canadiens picked Rafael Harvey-Pinard in the seventh round of the 2019 NHL and is in the final season of his current two-year, $2.2 million contract. His absence will be felt as the team starts the new season.

The Canadiens have faced many injuries in recent years. They set an NHL record with 751 man-games lost to injury in the 2022-23 season, which broke their own record of 720 man-games lost in the previous campaign. This led to the team firing their head athletic therapist and head physiotherapist in June 2023.

Last year, forward Kirby Dach also had a season-ending injury early in the season and only a few players, like Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, played all 82 games.

Rafael Harvey-Pinard's injury's implications on Montreal Canadiens Lineup beginning next season

The Montreal Canadiens have uncertainties at left wing for the new season. Juraj Slafkovsky will be on the first line with Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki. Rafaël Harvey-Pinard had a chance to secure a second-line role but now has a broken leg.

Rafael Harvey-Pinard will be out until late November, likely on long-term injured reserve. This means more playing time for Michael Pezzetta and a better chance for prospects like Owen Beck, Filip Mesar, and Joshua Roy to make the opening night roster.

Ivan Demidov was drafted fifth overall by the Montreal Canadiens on June 28 and fans are excited about him. However, it is not certain when he will join the Canadiens' roster.