Oliver Kapanen was back on the ice with the Canadiens on Monday morning, and this time he was dressed in full gear.
That was the good news.
The rest of the picture was less reassuring, with Ivan Demidov, Mike Matheson and Samuel Montembeault all still nowhere to be seen at practice.
Patrick Guillet, who recorded the footage, confirmed that Kapanen had returned to the session in full equipment. It is at least a step forward for a player who has not played a game this season after putting up 22 goals last year.
Even so, his situation remains murky. Kapanen is still on injured reserve, and the team has never revealed the nature of the injury. His availability continues to feel hard to pin down: one day he’s on the ice, the next he disappears, and then the pattern starts again.
Matheson’s absence is the one that stands out most. He has been listed as day-to-day since Monday, and he was also recently seen limping at the airport.
The 32-year-old defenseman played 23:01 in Saturday’s game against Detroit, so the Canadiens’ decision to bring up David Reinbacher fits the moment. Montreal needs help on the blue line, and Matheson not being available is already a problem.
Demidov’s update is more positive, according to Maxime Truman. His recovery is said to be closer to two weeks than four, which could put him on track to return next week. Even with that encouraging timeline, his absence from Monday’s skate didn’t exactly calm things down.
Montembeault, meanwhile, is not expected back before October 20. With Jacob Fowler taking over in net, his place in Montreal’s goaltending picture is now unsettled.
For now, Kapanen’s return to practice is a welcome sign. The next step is figuring out how quickly that leads to him getting back into games.
In Other News...
Canadiens Blue Line Suddenly Puts David Reinbacher In Focus
A thinning blue line has suddenly pushed David Reinbacher into the conversation in Montreal. The Canadiens recalled the young defenseman from the Laval Rocket after Mike Matheson went down injured, leaving the club with only six healthy blueliners as it gets ready for a matchup with the Washington Capitals.
Reinbachers arrival adds intrigue to a situation the Canadiens did not have much time to manage, but his actual role is still unsettled. Montreal has not yet confirmed whether he will make his debut against Washington or where he would slot in if he does, which leaves the club balancing immediate need with a more cautious look at how it wants to deploy him. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Interest In Dylan Larkin Comes Down To One Big Thing
Dylan Larkins situation in Detroit remains one of the more closely watched storylines around the league, and it has obvious appeal for a Canadiens front office still looking for a meaningful swing. He has not rescinded his trade request from the Red Wings and is still interested in being moved this season, while his no-movement clause gives him control over where this goes next. Reports have him open to about ten teams, a group that includes several contenders and a few clubs with clear cap space or roster flexibility.
Montreal has shown serious interest, which makes sense for a team that would love to add a player of Larkins caliber if the opportunity ever materializes. The catch is simple: he is not currently open to playing there, even though the Canadiens are said to be willing to put together a significant offer if that stance changes. For now, it is less a full-blown pursuit than a waiting game, with Montreal keeping tabs on a possibility that may depend on one big shift in Larkins thinking. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens May Be Fixing The Problem That Hurt Them Most
After a shaky start to the season in one of the areas that had hurt them most, the Canadiens are at least showing signs of a fix on the penalty kill. Against Buffalo, Montreal protected a 3-1 lead long enough to survive a Sabres push and eventually win in a shootout, but the more encouraging part came when the game turned chippy and special teams became a factor.
Montreals penalty killers handled every Buffalo man advantage in the game, and the recent trend now matters as much as the result itself. The Canadiens have strung together a run of successful kills over their last two games, a welcome answer after early-season trouble with power-play goals against had put extra pressure on the rest of the roster. [Read more 🡒]