Schneider

Release from the Canadiens:

Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey issued a medical update today on the status of forward Maxim Lapierre and defenceman Mathieu Schneider.

Yesterday, Maxim Lapierre, 24, underwent a minor surgical procedure to his ankle. For most of the season, Lapierre was able to play despite the injury. Lapierre and the Canadiens’ medical staff had agreed that surgery would be performed at the end of the season.

Mathieu Schneider underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery last week. Schneider suffered a shoulder injury in a game against the Maple Leafs in Toronto on April 4. He missed two games before returning for the last two regular season games of the season. The 39-year old played in the first two playoff match-ups against the Boston Bruins, but was unable to participate in the following two contests.

Both players are expected to fully recover in time for the start of training camp in September.

Defencemen Mathieu Schneider (left) and Andrei Markov celebrate a goal last Thursday on Long Island.
Bruce Bennett, Getty Images

PREGAME AUDIO:  Gainey  Komisarek   Brisebois  Janik

Defencemen Andrei Markov and Mathieu Schneider have both been scratched for tonight's game against the Ottawa Senators. Nor is coach Bob Gainey overly optimistic that either will be back to face the New York Rangers tomorrow, saying it's not uncommon for a player who can't suit up one night to also be unavailable 24 hours later.

Neither player participated in the morning skate today and Doug Janik was recalled from Hamilton to fill out the lineup. Markov and Schneider both suffered upper-body injuries – think shoulder – in Saturday's 6-2 rout of Toronto. Both rearguards had early-morning MRI exams, with Gainey saying after morning skate that neither would be available tonight. The coach expected to meet with Canadiens doctor David Mulder this evening to get a clearer idea about their condition.

The injured defencemen will be missed most on the power play. Markov has 39 of his team-leading 64 points with the man advantage while Schneider has scored 16 points in 21 games since coming over from Atlanta and most of those have been on the power play.

Based on the pairings this morning, Mike Komisarek and Josh Gorges will be the No. 1 combination while Roman Hamrlik will play with Patrice Brisebois. Janik and Ryan O'Byrne will be the third pair.

Jaroslav Halak starts in goal, Carey Price as the backup. Look for Price to return tomorrow against the Rangers. Andrei Kostitsyn is a healthy scratch again tonight.

The Canadiens have just recalled defenceman Doug Janik from the Hamilton Bulldogs, which suggests that either Andrei Markov or Mathieu Schneider or both might not be available for tonight's home game vs. Ottawa. Both Markov and Schneider left Saturday's game against Toronto before the end of the contest.

Goalie Marc Denis has been sent back to Hamilton, indicating that Carey Price, sidelined the past two games with the flu, is ready to return to action, either in a starting or backup capacity.

More details to come.

Mathieu Schneider in a 1990s game at the Forum, covering Pittsburgh's Mario Lemieux.
Denis Brodeur, NHLI via Getty Images

The Canadiens added a veteran presence to their defensive corps today when they reacquired Mathieu Schneider, a former Canadien, from the Atlanta Thrashers.

The Canadiens surrendered a second-round pick in this summer's draft (the choice they acquired from Washington for Cristobal Huet) and a third-round pick in 2010. The Canadiens also receive a conditional pick, at best Atlanta's third-round choice this year.

In a 5 p.m. conference call with the media, Bob Gainey said Schneider was the best player currently available to fill the Canadiens' needs. Gainey also cautioned that salary cap constraints preclude, at least for the moment, acquisition of another player in the $5 million to $6 million salary range.

Two excerpts from Gainey's remarks: Audio I and II.

The Canadiens will pay a prorated portion of Schneider's $5.625 million salary. He becomes the team's second highest-paid player after Andrei Markov, who is making $5.75 million this season.

The team cleared roster and cap space by sending Ryan O'Byrne to Hamilton and placing Robert Lang on injured reserve.