Montreal Canadiens recall Gustav Olofsson, Paul Byron to IR

Is Gustav Olofsson the stabilisator for a leaking Canadiens defence? The Montreal Canadiens will give the Swedish defender a chance to prove himself as the team called up Olofsson from Laval Rocket.

Olofsson has played 20 games for Laval this season and has accumulated seven assists, and holds a +1 rating defensively. The defender has 56 NHL games to his credit and plays on the left side. This is his first time with the NHL club. He has been with the Laval Rocket since being acquired from the Minnesota Wild.

In corresponding move Paul Byron has been moved to the Injured Reserve list for the foreseeable future. Byron suffered a knee injury during the third period of the game against the Washington Capitals on November 15 in Washington and has an expected return to Montreal after approximately four weeks after a successful surgery on the 19th of November. Byron has four points (1G+3A) in 19 games this season with the Canadiens.

The move comes after a disastrous six games for the Montreal Canadiens where the left side of the defence has had some problems, and calling up a defender instead of a froward sends a clear message that they are looking for a solution within the organization.