Alexis Belanger-Champagne, The Canadian Press

BROSSARD, Que. – Rookie forward Juraj Slafkovsky’s season is likely over as the Montreal Canadiens have announced he will be sidelined for three months with a knee injury.

The Canadian made it clear that the 18-year-old Slovak would not be operated on.

Slafkovsky didn’t finish Sunday’s game against the New York Rangers. He left in the third half after being contacted by defender Ben Harpur and appeared unable to put any weight on his left leg.

Slafkovsky was picked overall in the last NHL draft and has four goals and six assists in 39 games this season.

With Slafkovsky’s absence scheduled for three months and the Canadians’ season ending on April 12, all indications are that his first NHL season is over.

The Canadian also announced that forward Jake Evans will be out for eight to ten weeks. He’s also struggling with a left knee injury that doesn’t require surgery.

Evans was injured when New York Islanders forward Brock Nelson fell on his left leg late in the first half of Saturday’s game.

The 26-year-old American has two goals and nine assists in 43 games this season.

The Habs also said forwards Joel Armia (upper body) and Jonathan Drouin (upper body) will be out against the Islanders at least until they return from the All-Star Game break on February 11.

Armia fell into action after receiving a punch in the ribs from Jacob Trouba on Sunday against the New York Rangers. Drouin missed Tuesday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets and no details were given about the nature of the injury or when he suffered it.

As for goalkeeper Jake Allen, the Canadians said he has at least a week to recover from an upper-body injury.