Montreal Canadiens Brendan Gallagher to miss six-weeks, Winnipeg Jets Blake Wheeler out indefinitley

Apr 7, 2021, 14:27 EDT

Montreal Canadiens Brendan Gallagher to miss six-weeks, Winnipeg Jets Blake Wheeler out indefinitley

Credit: Eric Bolte

Mar 2, 2021; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher (11) spits out blood after getting hit by a stick during the second period of the game against the Ottawa Senators at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

Two big pieces of injury news in the NHL today as the Montreal Canadiens Brendan Gallagher will miss six weeks, while Winnipeg Jets Blake Wheeler is out indefinitely.

Gallagher was injured Monday night against the Edmonton Oilers when he took an errant shot from teammate Alex Romanov off the hand. It was announced not long after the game that Gallagher had broke his right thumb.

It’s not the first time Gallagher has missed time with hand injuries. In November 2015, he broke two fingers blocking a slapshot and in Jan. 2017, broke his left hand after taking a Shea Weber shot.

Now placed on the LTIR, Gallagher being placed there clears up $3.75-million in cap space for the team to utilize at the trade deadline.

Wheeler, meanwhile, took an elbow Monday from Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk. and the Jets are approaching the injury as if he has a concussion. Wheeler will miss the Jets’ five upcoming road games that sees them take on the Habs twice, Senators twice, and the Leafs once.

Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.