Alexandre Carrier injury exposes a major Canadiens weakness

Alexandre Carrier had a strong start to the 2026-27 NHL season, scoring a goal and recording an assist in the season opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs. But the Montreal Canadiens could be without him after leaving the game with an injury against the Pittsburgh Penguins. During the second period, Carrier appeared to get tangled up with Penguins forward Egor Chinakhov. He fell awkwardly, with his neck and back slamming against the boards. The defenceman immediately left the game and did not return for the third period or overtime. The severity of Carrier’s injury is still unknown, but if he misses some time, it could be an issue for the Canadiens' defensive structure.

Canadiens' lack of right-shot depth could be a problem

Coming into the season, the Canadiens had two real weaknesses: a lack of an established second-line centre and limited options on the right side of their defence. The Canadiens only have two right-shot defencemen on their roster: Noah Dobson and Carrier. Normally, this would not be as pressing an issue, but the Canadiens are already without Kaiden Guhle. With Guhle in the lineup, Montreal could shift Lane Hutson to his off-side, as the two defencemen spent 178 minutes together last season. Guhle is still a couple of weeks away from being inserted into the lineup, which means the Canadiens will have to lean on their depth until one of them returns.

For now, the Canadiens will have to make do with the players on the current roster. Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj got a chance to start the season in the lineup with Guhle on the sidelines. One of Struble or Xhekaj will likely see an expanded role if Carrier misses some time, with Adam Engstrom coming in to replace the veteran defenceman. According to Money Puck, Struble played the most minutes alongside Hutson last season, which could potentially be the route the Canadiens take to start. If Montreal struggles with Carrier out of the lineup, this could be the opening David Reinbacher needs to get into the Canadiens lineup.

How soon do the Canadiens recall David Reinbacher?

If Carrier is out a game or two, the Canadiens likely leave Reinbacher with the Laval Rocket. If Carrier is out a couple of weeks, the Canadiens should really consider calling up Reinbacher. Having one right-shot defenceman in the lineup could cause problems depending on the matchup. There is also the factor that Carrier is one of the team’s defensive stoppers. Carrier’s ability to kill plays and get into shooting lanes is crucial for the Canadiens’ penalty kill. Engstrom would most likely get the first opportunity to come into the lineup after making the team out of training camp, but if the team struggles defensively, the Canadiens should not hesitate to bring up Reinbacher.

Adding Reinbacher gives you another right-shot defenceman, but more importantly, gives you another defensive stopper. During training camp, Reinbacher told the media exactly how he wants to play. He sees himself as a shutdown defenceman first and foremost. He is prioritizing killing plays and making life hard for his opponents. If Carrier is out, Reinbacher would be the more natural fit to play alongside Hutson.