Struggling Habs get 2 familiar faces back at practice.

The Montreal Canadiens are not off to a good start this season, so much so that there has already been talk of potentially tanking the season among fans and pundits alike.

It is going to take a miraculous turn around for the Canadiens to get back into the playoff picture this season and with cornerstones of the franchise like Shea Weber and Carey Price on the sidelines that is going to be a difficult ask. Thankfully for the Canadiens there was some good news on Monday, signs that the team may soon get some help back in the form of 2 returning players.

The first bit of good news came courtesy of Canadiens defenseman Joel Edmundson, who for the first time all season took to the ice for a full practice. Edmundson did so while wearing a non-contact jersey, something that likely signals it will still be a little while before he is ready to play, but that is nonetheless a very good sign for the Habs. After appearing in 55 games for the Canadiens last season, Edmundson missed all of training camp, the preseason, and the season thus far due to what remains an undisclosed injury.

The second bit of good news for the Habs on Monday came courtesy of Canadiens forward Cedric Paquette who, like Edmundson, returned to practice in a non-contact jersey. Paquette had resumed skating this week following a period of absence dating back to November 9th, when he left a game against the Los Angeles Kings with an undisclosed injury of his own. 

The return of Paquette is particularly interesting because it is unclear how the Canadiens will proceed. Paquette has struggled to find a fit with the Canadiens through his first 10 regular season games with the team, and since his departure he has been replaced by a much younger Ryan Poehling.

Poehling has been one of the few bright spots for the Canadiens this season since stepping in for the injured Pacquette, scoring 3 goals through his first 6 games of the regular season. Paquette on the other hand has yet to register a point this season, which now seemingly leaves the Habs with a difficult choice to make.