Montreal Canadiens' Sean Monahan (91) scores against Buffalo Sabres goaltender Craig Anderson during second period NHL hockey action in Montreal, Tuesday, November 22, 2022. The Montreal Canadiens announced Monday veteran centre Sean Monahan underwent season-ending groin surgery. CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
MONTREAL – The Montreal Canadiens announced Monday that veteran centre Sean Monahan has undergone season-ending groin surgery.
Monahan of Brampton, Ont., has not played since Dec. 5.
The 28-year-old pending unrestricted free agent had six goals and 11 assists in 25 games with the Canadiens this season after Montreal acquired him from the Calgary Flames last off-season.
The Canadiens also announced forward Alex Belzile will miss the remainder of the season with a fractured leg.
Monahan and Belzile join a long list of Canadiens whose seasons have ended early, including Cole Caufield, Josh Anderson, David Savard and Kaiden Guhle. Rookie Juraj Slafkovsky has not been ruled out for the season but hasn’t played since Jan. 15 due to a lower-body injury.
Montreal, which sits 28th in the league standings with a 30-41-6 record, has five games left in season.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 3, 2023.