Canadiens' Heineman out 3-4 weeks after traffic accident

Montreal Canadiens forward Emil Heineman will miss three-to-four weeks with what the club called an upper-body ailment after being involved in a traffic accident as a pedestrian in Utah on Monday.

The Salt Lake City Police Department said in a statement Tuesday that Heineman didn't show signs of a serious injury, and that the Utah Highway Patrol is investigating the collision, per Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli.

Heineman has 10 goals and seven assists over 41 games in his first full season with the Canadiens. He played four contests with Montreal in 2023-24.

The 23-year-old has favorable underlying numbers despite his team's mediocrity. The Canadiens (20-18-4) have controlled 50.56% of the expected goals and 52.75% of the scoring chances with Heineman on the ice at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick.

Montreal acquired Heineman from the Calgary Flames in a February 2022 trade for Tyler Toffoli.

Heineman was the second NHLer to experience a traffic incident in a two-day span after Pittsburgh Penguins winger Michael Bunting had a car accident Sunday. He was OK but was forced to miss a loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning that day.