It’s been an interesting Monday for the Montreal Canadiens as both Andrew Shaw and Phillip Danault return to practice. While forward Nikita Scherbak had to be sent down to the AHL’s Laval Rocket in order to make room on the roster.
Both Andrew Shaw and Phillip Danault participated, in practice and actually lead the post-practice stretch, as both players have recently returned from injury.
Andrew Shaw et Phillip Danault mènent les étirements pour conclure l'entraînement.
Andrew Shaw and Phillip Danault are leading the stretch to wrap up practice.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/8ve7PMzl2v
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) February 19, 2018
Nikita Scherbak will be back
Sherbak has played in nine games for the Montreal Canadiens and registered one goal and three assists. He is clearly a young player who requires more time on the ice and more opportunities, but that will come. It is should not alarm fans that Scherbak was sent to the teams AHL affiliate in Laval. It is likely that the move was made in order to ensure that the twenty-three man roster had room for Shaw and also allowed Scherbak to be eligible to play for the Laval Rocket in the playoffs this season, should they qualify. It is important to note the 23-man roster limit is removed after the February 26th NHL Trade Deadline. Eric Engels of Sportsnet said, “He’ll be back.”
Canadiens will be happy to have Andrew Shaw back
At the end of January it was announced that Shaw would be absent well into the season.
A lower-body injury will keep Andrew Shaw out of action for the next 4 to 6 weeks.
DETAILS -> https://t.co/xlza6uTPHQ.
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) January 29, 2018
Fortunately, Shaw was skating again on February 13th and now he’s feeling even stronger. The fact that he’s back in team practices bodes well for Shaw returning to the lineup this week. It may even be as early as Tuesday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Belleville, Ontario native has missed the previous 15 games and looks to build on his 10 goals and nine assists this year. He’s on pace (19 points) to register 30 points this season, which he has done twice before in his seven-year NHL career. Shaw returning may be the spark this down trodden team needs. Shaw has been a pivotal part of the Habs power play having five of his nine goals this year come on the man advantage. Shaw provides a physical presence on the ice and has a knack for getting in the face of the opposing goaltender.
Phillip Danault clears concussion protocol
Canadiens Danault, hit by Chara shot Jan. 13, nears return from concussion https://t.co/nwvAn4lI4u pic.twitter.com/P9TmMJ3Paj
— CTV Montreal (@CTVMontreal) February 14, 2018
On January 13th, Danault was the unfortunate recipient of a Zdeno Chara slap shot which hit him in the head. This caused Danault to miss weeks of playing time, but today he was practicing on a line with Charles Hudon and Alex Galchenyuk. Danault has been back to practice since last week, but no guarantee on when he’ll be playing yet. However, he is travelling with the team as they end their four-game road trip in Philadelphia Tuesday night.
Last season, Danault played eighty-two games and helped his team with forty points, while he’s only played forty-three games and registered twenty-four points so far this season. Hopefully, Danualt receives the green light to play soon and is able to contribute to the rest of the Canadiens season.
Harsh Reality
As players are becoming healthy it’s important to get them back on the ice and in game situations as soon as they are able. Scherbak had to take one for the team, but it only made sense for him to be moved to Laval because he is waiver exempt. Players like Byron Froese, Daniel Carr, and Nicolas Deslauriers – they all have to clear waivers. At the end of the day you need bodies on the bench and unfortunately with Shaw and Danault returning, it makes sense.
The other reality is that with the Habs in 29th place in the NHL some of those bodies may be moved before the trade deadline, allowing for space in the lineup for Scherbak.
