Canadiens’ Jonathan Drouin reveals he tore tendon in his wrist

BROSSARD, Que.— Montreal Canadiens forward Jonathan Drouin spoke on Friday for the first time since his Nov. 18 surgery, and he explained that he suffered a torn tendon in his left wrist on his first shift of the third period in the team’s 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals on Nov. 15.

“I just fell on my wrist and twisted it,” Drouin said. “It’s just bad luck.”

Drouin’s expected timeline for recovery, approximated at eight weeks, hasn’t changed.

The 24-year-old said that the surgery was a success, that he was in a cast for two weeks and is now in a splint for the next number of weeks. He added that he should be able to resume cardiovascular training over the coming days.

But Drouin has no timeline as to when he’ll be able to use his wrist.

“I’m still in pain,” Drouin said.

He’s also frustrated about the timing of his injury — he had seven goals and 15 points and was among the Canadiens’ leading scorers — and the fact that he’s unavailable to help the team out of its current six-game winless streak.

“It’s disappointing,” the Ste. Agathe, Que., native said.

“But it’s part of hockey. I’m not the first player to suffer an injury and I won’t be the last, either. It’s up to me just keep my head up, have a good attitude and just continue to not lose it too much mentally because it could be awhile.

“Every athlete will tell you that when they can’t make a difference and they just have to wait around and watch what’s happening, it’s hard. I’m frustrated to see what’s happening on the ice and the results that we’re generating. Making a difference is why you’re part of a hockey team. It’s disappointing and it sucks (to not be able to help), but I’m trying to be positive also off the ice.”

Drouin is one of two Canadiens currently on the injured reserve list.

Forward Paul Byron had arthroscopic knee surgery on Nov. 19 and is expected to be sidelined until the fourth week of December.