On Saturday night, Christian Dvorak returned to the Canadiens' lineup for his first game of the season. The forward had been sidelined due to a knee operation and couldn't play before November 4, as he was on the LTIR (Long-Term Injured Reserve).
However, he has been practicing with contact with his teammates for quite some time. So, there was speculation about whether he could start the season without missing any games.
In an interview before Saturday's game, Dvorak admitted that he has been ready to come back for a while but then retracted his statement. His words could have serious consequences, and here's why.
Kent Hughes was able to place Carey Price on the season LTIR because Dvorak was also on the LTIR. Without this, Price would have needed to be placed on the summer LTIR, which would have been financially disadvantageous for the team.
For salary cap compliance reasons, Kent Hughes acted in this manner. However, if he intentionally placed Dvorak on the LTIR without it being necessary for the player's health, he could face serious consequences.
