NHL Injury Roundup: Canadiens Miss Texier, Rielly Exits for Leafs, Laba Hurt in Rangers Loss, Drouin Sidelined for Isles
The Montreal Canadiens were without forward Alexandre Texier in their win over the Buffalo Sabres, as the 24-year-old sat out with a lower-body injury. It’s the second time in recent weeks Texier has been sidelined with a similar issue-he previously missed games on January 20 and 22 before returning for a three-game stretch.
Whether this latest setback is related to the earlier injury remains unclear, but it’s certainly something to monitor. For now, the Canadiens are listing him as day-to-day.
Texier has carved out a meaningful role on Montreal’s top line, skating alongside Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki. Since stepping into a spot formerly held by 2022 first-overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky, Texier has chipped in seven goals and 17 points over 30 games. That production, combined with his two-way reliability, earned him a two-year extension worth $2.5 million annually just last month.
With Texier out, the Canadiens turned to Kirby Dach to fill the void. The 2019 third-overall pick didn’t waste the opportunity-he made a key play along the boards that directly led to the game-winning goal.
Dach, a pending restricted free agent, has a golden opportunity here: top-line minutes next to two of the franchise’s cornerstone players. If he can take advantage, it could significantly boost both his confidence and his next contract negotiation.
Leafs Lose Rielly to Upper-Body Injury
In Toronto, the Maple Leafs saw their top-pairing defenseman Morgan Rielly leave their win over the Vancouver Canucks with an upper-body injury. The team hasn’t provided a detailed update yet, but any extended absence for Rielly would be a big blow.
At 31, Rielly has been a mainstay on Toronto’s blue line and has missed just one game all season. While some of his performances this year have drawn criticism-especially with the Leafs fighting to stay in the Eastern Conference playoff picture-his impact is undeniable.
He’s second among Toronto defensemen in ice time, logging over 21 minutes a night, and he’s still producing offensively with 31 points in 54 games. He also anchors the team’s top power play unit, so any time missed would force head coach Craig Berube to shuffle his defensive pairings and special teams strategy.
Rangers Rookie Noah Laba Leaves Game with Upper-Body Injury
The New York Rangers also took an injury hit, as rookie center Noah Laba exited their loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins with an upper-body issue. The team is still evaluating the 22-year-old’s status, with no timeline yet available.
Laba has quietly been a steady contributor in his first full NHL season, centering the bottom six and chipping in 16 points across 53 games. He’s averaging just over 13 minutes of ice time per night and has been trusted with limited roles on both the penalty kill and power play. His physicality and defensive awareness have made him a valuable depth piece for the Rangers.
If Laba is out for any extended stretch, New York could be in a bind, especially with trade rumors swirling around veteran center Sam Carrick. Carrick, 33, is under contract for another year at a $1 million cap hit and could draw interest from playoff contenders. If the Rangers move him and Laba remains unavailable, that center depth could thin out quickly.
Islanders’ Drouin Misses Game with Illness
Meanwhile, the New York Islanders were without forward Jonathan Drouin in their loss yesterday due to illness. Drouin has been skating on a line with Mathew Barzal and Anthony Duclair, and his absence prompted head coach Patrick Roy to elevate rookie Maxim Shabanov into a top-six role.
Drouin has recorded 20 points in 48 games this season, and while he’s had his ups and downs, his playmaking has been a nice fit alongside Barzal’s creativity. There’s no word yet on how long he’ll be out, but for now, he’s considered day-to-day.
Final Thoughts
It’s that time of the season when injuries start to pile up, and how teams respond-whether by leaning on depth, shifting lines, or making roster moves-can make all the difference in a playoff push. For the Canadiens, Leafs, Rangers, and Islanders, the next few games will be telling. Whether it’s young players like Dach and Shabanov stepping into bigger roles or veterans like Rielly and Drouin trying to get back to full health, the ripple effects of these injuries are already being felt across the league.