Canadiens Prospect Nikita Scherbak Sidesteps Serious Injury

Canadiens Prospect Nikita Scherbak Sidesteps More Serious Injury

Jun 27, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Nikita Scherbak poses for a photo with team officials after being selected as the number twenty-six overall pick to the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Habs draft pick for 2014 Nikita Scherbak has a scary false alarm during game Saturday night

The Montreal Canadiens were one of many teams that allowed their first-round pick from the 2014 NHL Entry Draft spend another year in the minors.

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It was with his WHL team, the Everett Silvertips, that Nikita Scherbak — selected 26th overall at the draft in Philadelphia — had to be stretchered off the ice this weekend.

The 18-year-old Russian right winger was injured on a legal hit into the boards during the second period of the Silvertips’ game against the Seattle Thunderbirds Saturday night, which they came back to win 3-2 in the overtime shootout.

Scherbak was taken off the ice on a stretcher with his neck in a brace; with concerns about his lower back, he was given extensive tests and x-rays at the hospital before being discharged Saturday night. Although he did leave the hospital on crutches, Scherbak was not required to remain overnight, and passed all motor tests in his extremities.

Prior to being injured, Scherbak had 11 goals and 17 assists in his first nineteen games of the WHL season. This is his second year playing in North America; prior to getting drafted by the Canadiens, Scherbak had played with the Saskatoon Blades (also of the WHL). He recorded 28 goals and 50 assists in 65 games last season — his -6 has improved this year, though, as the forward sits at a +8 partway through the season.

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