What happened: Montreal Canadiens forward Chris Kreider will miss approximately six to eight weeks due to a lower-body injury. The team announced the timeline Saturday, shelving the veteran winger through the end of the calendar year.

Why it matters: The multi-month absence disrupts Montreal's forward rotation following Kreider's arrival via free agency in September. The Canadiens must now reconfigure their top-line combinations and power-play deployment without their veteran winger.

What to watch: Montreal will look to fill Kreider's spot in the lineup as they continue their November schedule. A six-to-eight-week recovery timeline targets Kreider's potential return in early to mid-January.