Montreal Canadiens forward breaks his leg forced to undergo surgery

Montreal Canadiens forward Rafaël Harvey-Pinard will miss a significant portion of the upcoming 2024-25 season following surgery on a broken leg. This announcement adds to the list of injuries that have plagued the team in recent years, despite efforts to revamp their medical department.

The Canadiens revealed that Harvey-Pinard underwent successful surgery after suffering a broken leg. The recovery period for the 25-year-old winger is expected to be around four months. The team did not specify how or when the injury occurred, but it will sideline Harvey-Pinard for at least the first two months of the season.

The official announcement can be found on the team's Twitter:

The Montreal Canadiens have faced a challenging few seasons, with injuries consistently disrupting their roster. This trend has continued despite a major overhaul of their medical department announced in September 2023. The team hired two new medical professionals and promoted three others in an attempt to improve player care and reduce injury frequency.

Jeff Gorton, Executive Vice-President of Hockey Operations for the Canadiens, expressed confidence in the new medical team at the time of the announcement.

Further details about the medical staff changes are available here:

Rafaël Harvey-Pinard, a 7th round draft pick by the Canadiens in 2019, has been working towards securing a stable position in the NHL. Last season, he played 45 games, contributing 2 goals and 10 points. His injury is a significant setback not only for his personal career but also for the team, which has been striving to regain its competitive edge since their run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2021.

The Canadiens' persistent injury issues have even become a meme among fans and on social media, highlighting the extent of the problem. A post from HabsOnReddit humorously captures this sentiment:

As the Canadiens prepare for the 2024-25 season, they will need to adapt to the absence of Harvey-Pinard and hope that their revamped medical team can help reduce the frequency and severity of injuries moving forward. The team's management and fans alike will be keenly watching to see if these efforts bear fruit and lead to a healthier, more competitive roster.