Greg Pateryn will miss eight weeks with a fractured ankle

When it rains, it pours. The Canadiens have announced that defenceman Greg Pateryn will miss eight weeks of action due to a fractured ankle.

Pateryn, 26, has provided a solid presence for the Canadiens on the blue line this season, mostly in a third pairing role. He’ll join a few teammates on the injured reserve, due to the knee injuries sustained by both Alex Galchenyuk and David Desharnais.

This injury will provide an opportunity for Zach Redmond to solidify his presence in the roster, himself having just recovered from a foot injury which kept him out of the lineup for six weeks.

The Canadiens will need to recall a defenceman to replace Pateryn, but due to the waiver clock of 10 games or 30 days before requiring waivers again, don’t necessarily expect it to be Mark Barberio.

Even with Nathan Beaulieu’s return, they only have six defencemen on the roster.