The Montreal Canadiens carousel of injuries continues to spin as the team announced multiple injury updates Thursday involving Joel Armia, Chris Wideman, Kirby Dach, and Joel Edmundson. Additionally, shortly after the injury updates, the Canadiens announced they picked up forward Chris Tierney off waivers.
Medical updates: Armia, Dach, Edmundson, Wideman
https://t.co/6TUZnSDuKp
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) February 23, 2023
Les Canadiens ont réclamé l’attaquant Chris Tierney au ballottage.
The Canadiens have claimed forward Chris Tierney off waivers. #GoHabsGo
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) February 23, 2023
Montreal Canadiens Injury Updates on Kirby Dach, Joel Armia, Joel Edmundson, and Chris Wideman and Waiver Pickup of Chris Tierney
With the NHL trade deadline rapidly approaching, the (likely) selling Canadiens announced multiple injury updates and claimed forward Chris Tierney off of waivers.
Forward Joel Armia left the Canadiens game Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils after not feeling well. He is listed as day-to-day and is questionable for Friday’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 29-year-old winger has put up four goals and seven assists in 37 games for the Canadiens this season.
Forward Kirby Dach has been out since February 16 with a non-COVID-related illness that, interestingly, is related to a lower-body injury. He is not expected to travel with the team to Philadelphia. A Canadiens summer acquisition from the Chicago Blackhawks, Dach has played 54 games for the Canadiens this season, scoring 12 goals and 23 assists.
Defenceman Joel Edmundson is reportedly progressing in his rehab. The team is expected to provide updates at the end of the week. Edmundson has been out with an injury since January 26. He is one of the names on the Canadiens potential trade list, so positive injury news is a plus for Montreal.
Defenceman Chris Wideman is out week-to-week with an upper-body injury. He last skated in the team’s practice on Sunday but, according to the Canadiens, suffered his injury prior to that practice. In his eighth NHL season, the veteran defenceman has skated in 32 games for the Canadiens this season, recording four assists.
The team also announced it picked up forward Chris Tierney off waivers Thursday from the Florida Panthers. Tierney played in 13 games this season before the Panthers placed him on waivers. A 2012 second-round San Jose Sharks draft pick, the 28-year-old forward has played in nine NHL seasons with the Sharks, Ottawa Senators, and Panthers. Over that span, he scored 75 goals and 154 assists.
What this Means
Following a run of notable injuries, including to Juraj Slafkovsky, Arber Xhejak, Jake Evans, Cole Caufield, and others, this is somewhat up-and-down news for the Canadiens. Armia is only day-to-day, and Edmundson seems to be moving in the right direction. Wideman is more of a question mark being week-to-week. However, what seems to be the most questionable is Dach’s illness related to a lower-body injury. The team announced it wasn’t COVID related, but the relation to the lower-body injury is intriguing. Keep an eye on updates to Dach’s status moving forward.
The addition of Tierney adds a veteran center to the Canadiens lineup. While not an offensive stalwart, Tierney is a solid defensive forward and decent in the face-off circle. He will plug one of the many injury-caused holes in the Canadiens lineup at a low cost. Tierney could also play a role in Canadiens trade deadline moves. Either plugging a gap left by a departing player or becoming a flip of some sort himself.
Main Photo: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
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