Montreal Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky will make the trip to New York for Saturday’s game against the Islanders but his playing status remains to be determined.
Slafkovsky left Canadiens practice early on Friday with an apparent shoulder injury. He was favouring his left shoulder after attempting a shot on net. He left for the locker room shortly after and did not return to the ice.
Head coach Martin St. Louis said after practice that he isn’t sure if Slafkovsky will be able to play Saturday.
The 20-year-old has a goal and three assists in five games to start the season.
Slafkovsky is in the final season of his entry-level contract, but inked an eight-year, $60.8 million contract extension on July 1, which will kick in next year.
Selected first overall in the 2022 draft, Slafkovsky broke out last season with 20 goals and 50 points in 82 games. He had four goals and 10 points in 39 games as a rookie in 2022-23.
Habs call up Mailloux
The Canadiens recalled defenceman Logan Mailloux from the AHL’s Laval Rocket, the team announced Friday.
Mailloux has registered two goals and four points in two AHL contests this season, and is coming off of a 2023-24 season that saw him post 14 goals and 33 assists in 72 games with the Rocket.
The Belle River, Ont., native made his NHL debut last season against the Detroit Red Wings on April 16, and recorded an assist in the 5-4 shootout loss.
The 23-year-old blue liner was selected by Montreal with the 31st overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, after he recorded 53 points in 59 games with the OHL’s London Knights in 2022-23.
The move comes in the wake of Canadiens defenceman Mike Matheson leaving Thursday’s contest against the Los Angeles Kings early with an upper-body injury. He did not participate in practice with the team Friday, with the team citing his absence as a “therapy day”.
Kaiden Guhle will also missed practice while tending to an upper-body injury, and will be evaluated on a day-to-day basis going forward.
The Canadiens have opened the season with a 2-3-0 record, while the Islanders as 1-1-2.
