Ryan Poehling has been recalled from the AHL by the Montreal Canadiens

On Sunday afternoon, the Montreal Canadiens annouced that Jesperi Kotkaniemi had been placed on Injured Reserve with a groin injury, creating a spot on the 23-man roster. The team has used the opportunity to recall Ryan Poehling from the Laval Rocket.

Kotkaniemi had played 12 games this season before being forced to miss the last two. The sophomore centreman has two goals and one assist.

Poehling had an exceptional NHL debut in the final game of the 2018-19 season, netting a hat trick before sealing the victory in the shootout. While many expected him to make the Canadiens out of training camp, a concussion sustained in the pre-season prevented him from getting the time needed to ramp up his play, and he was assigned to the AHL’s Laval Rocket.

He hadn’t exactly lit the minor leagues on fire in his time in Laval, but did score three goals and add two assists in 13 games played. The Canadiens do have enough forwards to make a full lineup without him, so it’s possible he will just be an observer for Tuesday’s game versus the Boston Bruins. That all may depend on how he impresses Claude Julien in the practice sessions leading up to that first meeting of the year between the rival clubs.