Montreal Canadiens send Mark Barberio to AHL

The Montreal Canadiens sent defenceman Mark Barberio back to St. John’s of the American Hockey League.

This should mean that Nathan Beaulieu is close to a return. The Habs also have Zach Redmond who has yet to play an NHL game this season on the roster.

Beaulieu did not go with the team on the road trip, but he was skating in Montreal with Charles Hudon.

The timing urgency with sending Barberio down was increased due to the fact that Barberio would need to go through waivers should he have stayed in the NHL for 10 games or for 30 days.

He is at six games in 14 days right now, and that clock is cumulative should they need him to be recalled later in the season meaning every day could make the difference.

The Canadiens take on the New Jersey Devils at home on Thursday, their first game back after the five game road trip that ended 2-2-1.