Chris Wideman's season may already be over.

The 2023-24 National Hockey League regular season may already be over for one NHL veteran.

On Saturday, Montreal Canadiens defenseman Chris Wideman was spotted at the Canadiens morning skate mingling with his teammates but while this may seem like a positive sign it turns out it was quite the opposite. NHL insider Renaud Lavoie is now reporting that Wideman's chances of returning this season are considered to be "very slim" with the veteran blueliner still sidelined due to injury.

Wideman has been rehabilitating from a back injury but has been engaged in that rehab back home in St. Louis and there is now an expectation that this is where he will remain for the entire duration of the regular season.

The 33 year old defenseman has battled injuries throughout his career and one has to wonder what will come next for Wideman beyond this season even if he does make a full recovery. It sounds like there won't be another contract offer forthcoming from the Canadiens, with Wideman currently playing out the final year of his deal.

Wideman was signed to a 2 year deal in the summer of 2022, one that carries an average annual value and cap hit of $762.500 per season. Should he fail to play this season he will have appeared in just 46 games and recorded just 6 points, all assists, over the length of that 2 year deal.