Rene Bourque Out 8 To 12 Weeks After Abdominal Surgery

Rene Bourque Injury 'Devastating' To Canadiens If NHL Season Starts On Schedule

After hearing about the surprising news of left winger Rene Bourque, who will need abdominal surgery and will miss the first eight to 10 weeks of the NHL season -- if there is one -- the Montreal Canadiens' SB Nation blog, Eyes on the Prize, is hitting the panic button on its team's playoff chances.

With the incredibly weakness at the left wing position after Max Pacioretty, even though Bourque was terrible last season, this is devastating news for the Habs if the season starts on time. No team is going to be competing for a playoff spot with Travis Moen and Brandon Prust both in the top 9 on the left side.

However, the injury could proved some positives for the Canadiens, says writer Andrew Berkshire:

Conversely, this may be just the opportunity for a player like Aaron Palushaj, who can play on the left as well as he can on the right. Palushaj has been pushing for a spot in the lineup for awhile now and could see an excellent opportunity on the second line if he can capture lightning in a bottle.

For more on the Canadiens, visit Habs Eyes On The Prize. For all your offseason NHL news, visit SB Nation's NHL hub.

Rene Bourque Out 8 To 12 Weeks After Abdominal Surgery

Canadiens forward Rene Bourque is out 8 to 12 weeks after having surgery to repair an abdominal tear.