Canadiens Prospect Forced to Miss Rookie Camp Due to Health Setback

It's sad news for the towering forward, in whom the organization sees a potential future bottom-six center.

Paupanekis was selected 69th overall (3rd round) by the Montreal Canadiens at the 2025 draft on June 28. To acquire him, Montreal traded their 79th and 108th picks, showing how interested they were in him.

At 6'5" and over 200 pounds, fans were eager to see him on the Bell Centre ice for the rookie game.

The imposing center is currently suffering from mononucleosis.

Mononucleosis can have significant effects on a young 18-year-old athlete like Hayden Paupanekis. In most cases, it causes extreme fatigue due to inflammation and an overworked immune system, lasting 2 to 4 weeks, sometimes up to 2-3 months.

Symptoms such as mild fever, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, and an enlarged spleen (splenomegaly) are common, making training risky-especially physical contact, which could cause a spleen rupture.

Energy and endurance are severely affected, limiting athletic performance. A period of complete rest is essential, followed by a gradual return under medical supervision, often over 4-6 weeks after symptoms disappear.

For athletes, returning to play depends on individual recovery, but rushing it can lead to relapse or complications. Proper nutrition and medical monitoring are key to minimizing the impact on his season and development.

We wish Hayden a speedy recovery and hope he can pick up where he left off last season in junior.