The Montreal Canadiens have not been spared injuries this season. And while the focus has been on learning, the young players who’ve spent the past few weeks on the touchlines ensure they’ve been able to continue their progress even when they’re off the ice.

“Even if you’re injured, you come to work every day,” said defender Kaiden Guhle on Monday. You have to follow your rehabilitation program, you spend time in the gym.”

“This is not a vacation. There is still work to be done,” he added.

Guhle will be limited to 44 games in his first NHL season due to injuries to both legs. His last game dates back to March 16 when he sprained his left ankle against the Florida Panthers.

Among the other Canadiens rookies, Jordan Harris played 65 games, Arber Xhekaj (51) and Juraj Slafkovsky (39). Cole Caufield was limited to 46 games in his second full season in the NHL, and Kirby Dach, who is 22, was limited to 58 games.

Head coach Martin St-Louis has already mentioned that the physical preparation program will be reviewed at the end of the season – like everything else. However, the players all argue that it was mostly bad luck that hit the Canadian.

“I hope it doesn’t happen again,” said Slafkovsky, who returned to the rink at the Bell Sports Complex on Monday for the first time since injuring his left knee against the New York Rangers on Monday.

“Other teams haven’t been hit as hard by injuries, so you can’t blame the NHL for the intense schedule. I am sure that in our case next season will be better,” he continued.

Xhekaj injured his right shoulder in a fight against Vincent Desharnais on February 12 against the Edmonton Oilers. He admitted to doing some investigations since the incident.

“Maybe I’ll think a little more about my long career and think a little more about the situations where I throw the gloves off,” said Xhekaj, who has fought nine times this season.

“I don’t have to prove myself anymore. I think I’ve already done that. I will of course continue to play robust and whatever happens will happen. I still think it was a stupid accident as we’ve seen several this season,” he added.

An important ally

The three young players, made available by the Canadians on Monday, all talked about the work to be done while watching the games from the heights of the Bell Centre. They also highlighted the important contribution of Adam Nicholas, director of hockey development for the Habs.

Nicholas sent injured players video footage of not only them but other NHL stars as well.

Guhle said he viewed footage involving the Winnipeg Jets’ Josh Morrissey, the Nashville Predators’ Ryan McDonagh and the Panthers’ Brandon Montour.

For his part, Slafkovsky revealed that Nicholas used the Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk as a model for the young Slovakian ice hockey player to emulate.

“Because of the way he played and his performance on the ice,” Slafkovsky said Monday afternoon of the NHL’s fifth-best scorer. He’s a pretty good player! I can learn a lot from him.”

Xhekaj also said he learned some tricks of the trade by watching Canadian veterans including Mike Matheson, David Savard and Joel Edmundson.

“I have to improve some details; for example, protecting the front of the net, positioning and working with the racquet, Xhekaj pointed out. I hadn’t realized how much it’s the kind of details that make players who they are and give them a long career.

Although St-Louis reminds us that the repeats players have achieved on the ice this season are not for sale, the young players hope to have used every day off the ice to do even better next season to become.

“We have a bright future on the blue line and also on offense,” said Guhle. The next few years will be exciting.”

If time on the sidelines wasn’t wasted time, it might be true. We’ll have a better idea next fall.

To see in the video