The habs have $32 million in salaries for absent players

Michaël Petit
The habs have $32 million in salaries for absent players
Credit: Screenshot | YouTube

As is often the case, the Montreal Canadiens are rather unlucky in terms of injured/missing players.

Every season, it's inevitable that several players will be injured. Too many absentees always makes it a challenge to make the playoffs.

At the moment, excluding Mike Matheson who returned to action in the last game, the Habs have a total of seven players absent, according to the Puckpedia website.

That's starting to sound like a lot.

However, it's important to note that these aren't just depth players. There are some big names on this list and, more importantly, a lot of salary money among players who aren't currently playing.

(Credit: Screenshot | Puckpedia)

The seven players on this list add up to an impressive $32.01 million in salary.

That's more than a third of the total payroll.

Like it or not, this has a direct impact on the success of the club, which is doing very well despite everything.

We know that the Atlantic Division is very tight, and the Habs still have a very fine 19-12-4 record, placing them second in the division and fourth in the East.

Of course, Montembeault and Danault are not injured, but the fact remains that they are not currently active in the lineup.

What's more, Kirby Dach is expected to return to action eventually, having laced up his skates on Friday morning for practice in Brossard.

On the other hand, Kaiden Guhle, Patrik Laine, and Alex Newhook are not very close to a return to action and have already missed several games.

To compensate for all these losses, the Habs have added a number of players to their roster. Alexandre Texier is one of them, Samuel Blais(who was recently recalled after being called up from waivers in November) and Phillip Danault have come on board as reinforcements for the Habs. And let's not forget Adam Engstrom, who was recalled to help the defensive brigade.

On the other hand, with the possible return of all the injured players (and absentees like Danault), it's going to create a (nice) problem in Montreal, as Nicolas Cloutier recently mentioned in a text.

Many agree that Joe Veleno should be the one to pay (on merit) when Danault is inserted into the lineup. When Evans, Newhook, and Laine return (sooner rather than later, let's hope), Alexandre Texier should in turn bail out, as should Sammy Blais, but there will have to be another player to come out of the lineup.

However, these players must all go through waivers, as Cloutier explains, except for Blais, who will be exempt since he won't have played 10 games with the club (or spent 30 days with the organization). Owen Beck, on the other hand, doesn't have to go through waivers and would be an easy choice.

It should also be added that Montembeault will return to the Habs after completing his conditioning stint in Laval.

But all that will be a problem for the future.


Overtime

– Indeed, you have to go on merit.

– Danault arrived in Montreal this afternoon. He will join the team in Boston for Tuesday night's game.

– Mooney on second line for Germany game.

– Berube doesn't have to pay for his players.

– Read on.

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