Hey, I thought it would be good to have an Injury thread. Where we could come to get news on injured players(ie: type of injury, date of return...)

So do we know when Gionta is supposed to return?

I know that Markov is supposed to come back at some point in January, but I think Gomez would really like to see Gionta back ASAP!

Patrick Roy gushed about Gionta in his Centennial game interview . . .

I suspect Markov will be back before January given how he's already travelling and practicing with the team.

I thought Gionta would be back just before Christmas, but given that we haven't heard anything I think it'll be after.

Hopefully Spacek isn't out too long. Mara... his -13, 0 goals and 7 points through 30 games shouldn't be missed with a healthy team, but he's a warm body as long as Spacek and Markov aren't in the lineup.

Might see Pouliot tomorrow or on Saturday.

I'm shocked by Mara's +/-. In my mind, he is a very solid, useful player, a canny pick-up by Bob. But that stats don't bear that out.

Spacek, that's another grave body blow. But if you look at his track record, it was only a matter of time before he got hurt. The best we can hope for is that it's only a few games and that MAB et al. can play over their heads temporarily to compensate for those lost minutes. Meanwhile, we'd better just pray to the good Lord that Hamrlik stays healthy. If he goes down, the ship goes down with him.

What did Roy say about Gionta?

Mara will definitely be missed. He's at his best when you don't notice him.

He basically said that Gionta being out is the biggest reason the Habs are struggling. Yes, he completely ignored Markov being out.

Gionta was terrific out there. I am pretty happy with the way the team keeps struggling through , given the key injuries. I like this team.

Uncle Bob is a GENIUS!

Spacek and Mara were not at practice today, however, SK74 and MaxPac were there.

I thought Gionta would be back by now? How long has he been out? 4 weeks?

Medical Watch from Yahoo Sprots;

• D Jaroslav Spacek took a shot off the inside of his right knee in the first period of the Dec. 8 game in Ottawa. There was no immediate word on the extent of the injury.


• D Paul Mara left the Dec. 7 game against Philadelphia with an upper-body injury. There was no immediate word on the extent of the injury, but he did not accompany the team to Ottawa for the Dec. 8 game.


• RW Brian Gionta(notes) was a last-minute scratch for the Nov. 14 game in Nashville. Subsequent tests showed that he suffered a broken bone in his foot when he stopped a puck in the Nov. 3 game against Nashville. The Canadiens said he will be out indefinitely.


• D Andrei Markov was cut on the leg by G Carey Price’s skate in the Oct. 1 season opener in Toronto. He had surgery to replace damaged tendons and has resumed skating with the team. The Canadiens said he’ll be out until February, but Markov said his goal is to return sometime in January.


• C Benoit Pouliot(notes), who was acquired from Minnesota in a trade on Nov. 23, has a wrist injury. He’s listed as day-to-day and has begun practicing with the team.

From ICE CHIPS (TSN)

The Canadiens have sent Ryan White back to Hamilton of the AHL. Paul Mara and Jaroslav Spacek were given "therapy days" and did not skate on Wednesday. - RDS

given White being sent back, I wouldn't be surprised to see Pouliot suit up for the Pens game.

Let's hope it's Pouliot.

I hope not D'agi, he is brutal. Will they lose him to waivers? Is that why he isn't down in Hamilton.

Yep. But coming off his knee/concussion, they probably should have sent him down for conditioning for two weeks in Hamilton. But they were desperate to have some healthy bodies return, so they didn't.

I knew he was skating, but scrimmaging already?

"There was a surprise addition to the Montreal Canadiens' practice on Wednesday morning as defenceman Andrei Markov scrimmaged with the team for the first time suffering lacerated tendons during the Habs' first game of the season on Oct. 1."

From TSN: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=301678

Yay

No wait............. let's hope his return is not being rushed

Markov said today that he still needs time. He also said that he has a comeback date in his mind, but don't want to reveal it now.

Markov is the man.

Weird thing is, that +/- changed dramatically. About 1/1,5 month back he was as i recall the leader of the team in it. He had a very good rate.

and don't forget the PIM. Mara is 6th among defensemen with 44... and they weren't all necessary.

For those of you not watching the game, it wasn't the shot that injured Spacek, he had his legs tied up with Kovy. Probably much worse than a blocked shot.

Speculation is that Spacek may be able to play tonight.

The Canadiens Facebook group says Spacek's spot in the line up is confirmed. Sources don't get more legit than that.

Ice chips confirmed Spacey is in tonight.

Really, I have to say that i'm pleasantly surprised!

Yeah me too, Habsfan. I was not looking forward to having two MABs in the lineup, in the defensive zone one MAB is enough

Took a knock on the hip last night. Day-to-day.

I would not be surprised to see Markov dressed for a game very shortly. He has been practicing with the team and looks very strong already. Read the last comments from Dave Stubbs on Twitter, you'll see what I mean:

http://twitter.com/habsinsideout1

BTW, Gionta will see the doctor Monday. Let's hope that he'll get the green light to resume skating. If he does, he'll be in the line-up before Christmas.

What's the buzz on Gionta and Mara?

I miss Gio.

Gomez looks like a pee wee without good wingers. (i.e. I could blame him for not making Sergei better, as well as I could blame Sergei for not being able to adjust to Scott)

Problem is that Sergei and Gomer are both playmakers. They need a shooter... one smarter than D'Agostini. Hopefully once Pouliot comes back he's gets a spot next to Gomez. 

No kidding, with Ak46 picking it up they should put Cammi with Gomez and Sk with his brother until the injured guys are back.

There is no balance.

"I haven't seen the doctor, I don't know when I will. I need his OK to get back on skates. I have no idea when I'll be able to return." - Gio

Glad to see Habs medical staff is on top of their game.

Dude, Dr David Mulder, Head Team Physician and Chief Surgeon, is INTERNATIONALY known as one of the best of his profession. Please...

I don't agree.
SK and Gomer are getting to know each other better and better on ice habits every game. SK has been playing *well* and Gomez is getting *better* on O.
I think this way SK also feels he is getting a real shot and that will and must have helped his game.
Gomez will awake and I think that will be soner rather then later.
That little Chicano has alot of pride and I think he will pay himself an a$$ kicker before an a$$ kisser.

+

if we want a well balanced offensive punch then IMO there is no way we can take away this *dating* time SK and Gomer need before the return of Gio.

GO! GO!

They are both passers, you can't put up points passing it back and forth. They are playing well in a ll 3 zones, just not producing many points.

D'Agi actually joined those 2 in practice today. Lapierre between Moen and Pacioretty.

Metro demonted to the 4th line centre between Laraque and Pyatt.

BG also said he did offer a goalie to the Flyers. Wasn't specific but said Halak wanted a shot to be a #1.

While I cannot be sure of how they'll end up, I feel they've started to develop some chemistry. I might add that, previous to the last couple of games, there were a few questions about Plex, Cammi, and Kosty. It's only very recently where they've begun to really understand how to play together. I would suggest giving Gomer and Sergei more time, and more to the point, I think they should be evaluated once they have another top-six winger with them (potentially Pouliot). All props to Laps for his efforts, but I don't think he has the savoir faire to be a top-six guy. I'd much rather see him agitating and playing with less pressure on the bottom two lines. In fact, with Metro leading the parade to the sin bin, maybe Max should take a spot in that solid line with Moen and Max.

That's not what I was talking about.

So now Hamrlik is hurt?

I've been concerned about this possibility for a while. If he's out for any length of time, we're simply dead meat. Even with Markov returning - for God's sake, even the Righteous Russian will need time to round into form and without Hammer around to help clear the zone and organize plays, he will be keyed on mercilessly and, likely, to seriously harmful effect.

Fingers crossed.

Last time Hamrlik was injured, Markov struggled greatly under the increased pressure and responsibility.

He's not playing tonight. If this is long term, we are so doomed. In a different way, he is just as important as Markov when he's on his game. Which he has been all season.

I clap to Laps with Max-Pac and Moen. Plenty grit on that line with the duo mentality on O Martin seems to preach.
Sounds good
I would like to comment Pouliot but I will wait the habitual 20 to 30 game eval. cuz other wise it ain't fair, right
but yeah...
more time... more better when it comes to SK and Gomer...
for now

Hamr, Gionta and Markov all making the trip to Long Island. I know Gionta skated yesterday. Markov was still having trouble moving laterally as of Monday, has seen the doc, but Martin isn't saying anything for now.

Can we get a "Healthy thread"? It will be easier to follow...

Probably a good sign that both Tom Pyatt and Yannick Weber were sent down this morning.

http://twitter.com/habsworld_net/status/6800950785

My guess is that Hamrlik will be ready for tomorrow and the team will dress 7/11 again. Also on the injury front, Benoit Pouliot will play tonight for Hamilton, see the Bulldogs GDT for his linemates.

with the holiday roster freeze does this mean that Pouliot will be stuck in Hamilton until the freeze ends?

Markov playing saturday, according to RDS.

Without scanning through the CBA to find the exact answer, I would suspect he can return as a result of the fact he's on a conditioning stint, a max of 2 weeks in duration. For the record, emergency moves can still be made; teams aren't forced to dress less than 20 if injuries hit during this time. The freeze is in place essentially so that there isn't unnecessary player movement with the Christmas holidays forthcoming. Guys like Weber/Pyatt go down as there won't be a need for them at the moment, but if someone goes down tomorrow, they'd be able to come back.

I thought the roster freeze was just in terms of trades, etc.

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH
HHHHHHHH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!