The Montreal Canadiens will be without forwards Jonathan Drouin and Paul Byron for some time. Claude Julien announced both players require surgery to repair that will keep them out for ‘weeks’.
Claude Julien tells reporters Paul Byron (knee) and Jonathan Drouin (wrist) need surgery and will miss time
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) November 18, 2019
Jonathan Drouin and Paul Byron Out Long Term
Drouin will undergo wrist surgery on Monday while Byron is scheduled for knee surgery on Tuesday. Both players missed the Habs 4-3 OTL Saturday night with the injuries. Both players were injured in the Canadiens 5-2 win over Washington Friday night.
Drouin received a crushing hit from Alex Ovechkin in the second period that caused him to leave the game. Drouin returned to the game in the third before leaving again with the wrist injury. Julien confirmed the injury was not related to the Ovechkin hit. Drouin has seven goals and 15 points in 19 games this year. Alan Walsh tweeted that Drouin will me eight weeks following the surgery on his wrist.
Byron has been struggling the year for the Habs. He has one goal and four points in 19 games. Byron appeared to injure the knee at 16:51 of the third period when he became tangled with Capitals forward Richard Panik. He could be seen hobbling off the ice. A knee injury could certainly keep Byron out of the lineup long term.
Moving Forward
The Habs called up Charles Hudon for Saturday’s game against the New Jersey Devils. Hudon saw 7:55 of ice time and recorded no points. The Habs depth will be tested, especially with Drouin on the shelf. Drouin’s been an offensive catalyst early this year for the Habs and replacing his production will be tricky for Montreal. Rookie Nick Suzuki took Drouin’s spot on a line with Max Domi and Joel Armia.
The Habs are likely to keep the same lineup they had Saturday against New Jersey when they play the Columbus Blue Jackets Tuesday night, in Columbus.
