The imminent arrival of spring coincides with the return of long-time absentees to the Canadiens

Brendan Gallagher, Jake Evans and Kirby Dach all took part in their team’s practice this Monday morning at the Bell Centre. The three wore a sweater excluding them from contact.

If he manages to play a few of the last 12 games remaining on the Habs’ schedule, Gallagher will look to end another miserable season on a high note. “Lower body” injuries have caused him to miss 45 out of 70 games so far. He attempted a comeback around the turn of the new year, but was not seen on the ice again after Jan. 3. Until recently, he wore a protective boot on his right foot.

The 30-year-old veteran hasn’t played a full season since 2018-19. In total, over the past four campaigns, he has missed more than 100 games due to injury.

Evans suffered a knee injury on January 14. His return to skating is within the 8-10 week recovery schedule the team has set for him.

Dach’s case is more intriguing. On February 23, the organization said he was suffering from a “non-COVID-19 related illness” with symptoms “related to a lower body injury”. In a recent Sportsnet interview, general manager Kent Hughes said simply that Dach had suffered from an infection.

Otherwise, Kaiden Guhle did not participate in the training of the Canadian. The defender, who has missed several weeks of action with a knee injury this season, did not play last Saturday in Tampa.