McCarron (groin) is expected to be sidelined for six weeks.

EDGE Analysis

McCarron was expected to be one of the many cuts the Canadiens will make prior to Opening Night, but he'll now begin the year with the big club on injured reserve while rehabbing his groin. Once healthy, he'll be assigned to Montreal's AHL affiliate, where he'll likely remain for the entirety of the 2019-20 campaign.

McCarron (shoulder) is being hampered by a groin injury, the team announced Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

Even fully fit, McCarron was a longshot to make the 23-man roster coming out of training camp. The center figures to start the year in the minors, but could be an option should the Habs need to call up a player later in the season.

McCarron (shoulder) won't join the Habs for Tuesday's practice session, Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

It wasn't immediately clear if this issue was related to McCarron's existing shoulder issue or if he suffered a new injury. The center is a fringe option to make the 23-man roster for Opening Night, so any time off the ice will only hurt his chances. While McCarron figures to start the year in the minors, he could earn a call-up or two throughout the year.

McCarron (shoulder) signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Canadiens on Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

McCarron is still recovering after undergoing shoulder surgery in February, but appears on track for training camp. The 2013 first-round pick projects to compete to earn a roster spot in the fall.

McCarron (shoulder) was handed a qualifying offer by the Habs in order to secure his rights ahead of the 2019-20 campaign, Eric Engels of Sportsnet.ca reports.

EDGE Analysis

McCarron missed the end of the 2018-19 campaign after having surgery to repair his shoulder in February. The 24-year-old is expected to be ready for training camp in the fall and will have a chance to secure a spot on the 23-man roster. Even if he does make the team for Opening Night, the forward could find himself serving as a healthy scratch from time to time.

McCarron is set to have surgery on his shoulder that will cause him to miss the rest of the 2018-19 campaign.

EDGE Analysis

McCarron was likely on the Habs short list of potential call-up all season, especially considering he racked up 21 points in 32 minor-league games, but was never able to make his way up to the NHL. Instead, the 23-year-old will turn his focus to making the team coming out of training camp next year.

McCarron picked up four assists in AHL Laval's 5-4 loss to Utica on Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

McCarron remains a work in progress despite the fact he will turn 24 years old in March. The former first-round pick (2013) has proven to be little more than a fourth-line grinder during his 69-game NHL career and the Habs are hoping an extended run at the AHL level will help McCarron tap into his full potential. The odds are firmly against him at this point, but 6-foot-6 forwards with a decent set of hands don't grow on trees and Montreal is committed to give him every chance to develop.

McCarron had two shots and an assist on a short-handed goal for AHL Laval on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

McCarron earned the third star for his efforts Friday, playing on both special-team units and picking up his third assist of the season. This could be a make-or-break year for the 23-year-old who's fallen off the radar since a productive rookie season at the AHL level in 2015-16. Since then, he's become a mindless hitting and penalty machine, so it was encouraging to see Laval's new coach, Joel Bouchard, attempt to tap into McCarron's offensive side on the power play. The hitting and penalties will be part of his game, but Bouchard's job is to make McCarron into a more complete player, one capable of playing in the NHL, be that with the Canadiens or another team.

McCarron was placed on waivers by Montreal on Tuesday, Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

McCarron was the Canadiens' first round pick (25th overall) in 2013. When Montreal selected the 6-foot-6, 230-pound forward they knew he'd be somewhat of a project, particularly his skating. After a positive experience in the first season with the organization, when he showed a nice blend of physicality and playmaking, McCarron devolved into a hitting machine, regardless if those checks made sense or not. A change of scenery is needed, though he remains a project.

McCarron signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Canadiens, Chris Johnston of Sportsnet reports.

EDGE Analysis

McCarron, 23, has been a disappointment thus far in his career. The 25th overall selection in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft has appeared in only 69 career NHL games, tallying eight points in those contests -- he's faired only slightly better in the minors, notching 81 points in 144 career games, but even still, those are not the sort of numbers an organization expects from a first-round pick. Time is running out on the 6-foot-6 forward and he'll need to show major progress in 2018-19.