Canadiens’ Rafael Harvey-Pinard undergoes surgery, recovery timeline expected to be four months
The Montreal Canadiens announced Friday that forward Rafael Harvey-Pinard underwent surgery on his leg, and the recovery period is estimated to be four months.
L’attaquant Rafaël Harvey-Pinard a subi jeudi une intervention chirurgicale à la suite d’une fracture à une jambe. La période de convalescence prévue pour l'ailier de 25 ans est d’une durée de quatre mois.
Forward Rafaël Harvey-Pinard underwent successful surgery on Thursday… pic.twitter.com/3MdlacZbks
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) July 26, 2024
According to Sportsnet, the 25-year-old suffered the injury during off-season training and is unlikely to participate in Canadiens training camp.
The 2023-24 season was a difficult one for Harvey-Pinard. In a Feb. 10 matchup against the Dallas Stars, he suffered a leg injury when teammate Joel Armia accidentally fell on the winger.
Voici la séquence lors de laquelle RHP s'est blessé.
On voit clairement que sa jambe encaisse la totalité du choc, choc accentué par la chute d'Armia, qui n'est pas un petit monsieur.
En souhaitant que le Québécois ait évité le pire. pic.twitter.com/wyaPtYzHf1
— Anthony Martineau (@Antho_Martineau) February 10, 2024
Harvey-Pinard had to be helped off the ice by the Habs’ training staff. He would miss three weeks, returning March 5 and scoring just one goal and two assists in his final 21 games of the season. In total, Harvey-Pinard scored two goals and eight assists for 10 points in 45 regular-season games with the Canadiens.
It was a step down from the previous season, where in 2022-23, the 2019 seventh-round pick scored 14 goals and 20 points in just 34 games with the Canadiens, being called up after producing 16 goals and 15 assists for 31 points in 40 games with their AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket.
Harvey-Pinard’s best professional season came in 2021-22, where he scored 21 goals and 35 assists for 56 points in 69 regular-season games with the Rocket, including 10 points in 15 Calder Cup Playoff games that spring.
In junior, Harvey-Pinard found success with the QMJHL’s Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, helping the club with both a President’s Cup championship and the CHL’s Memorial Cup championship in 2018-19. Through four full QMJHL seasons, Harvey-Pinard scored 110 goals and 152 assists for 262 points in 248 career regular-season games.