The Canadian recalled forward Mitchell Stephens from the Laval Rocket. The 26-year-old veteran will join the team in practice on Saturday morning.

His recall suggests that the injury suffered by Alex Newhook will prevent him from playing at least Saturday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings. Thursday, against the Florida Panthers, Newhook suffered three falls that left him injured. In the third, his skate hit the opposing net, and he had to be helped by teammates to get off the ice.

By late evening, the team had indicated that he had a “lower body” injury and would have to undergo additional testing on Friday. Presumably the news is bad. More details are expected to be revealed on Saturday.

Stephens has been under contract with the Habs since the summer of 2022, but he has never played with the big club. However, he proved to be a sure value for the Rocket, finishing third in team scoring last season.

Since the start of this campaign, he has amassed 12 points, including 3 goals, in 16 games, in addition to maintaining a differential of 7, a record in Laval.

A second-round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2015, he played 45 career games with that organization, and another 27 with the Detroit Red Wings. His last NHL game was on April 29, 2022.