Kaiden Guhle took a real step forward in his recovery Monday, getting back on the ice as a full participant at Canadiens practice after minor adductor surgery in September, according to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports.
That’s the kind of update Montreal has been waiting for. Guhle has already missed the first two games of the Canadiens’ 2026-27 season while working his way back, and his return to practice suggests the healing process is moving in the right direction.
The 24-year-old defenseman’s availability has been a recurring concern for Montreal. Last season, he was limited to 39 games because of injuries, and the year before that he played 55.
When he’s healthy, he looks the part of a legitimate top-four blueliner. The problem has been stringing together enough healthy time for that version of Guhle to show up consistently.
The Canadiens will be hoping the two games he’s already missed end up being the bulk of his absence this season.
Elsewhere, Chicago Blackhawks forward Nick Lardis is hitting a rough patch after a preseason that had plenty of people buzzing. The 21-year-old was one of the bright spots in camp and quickly became a popular breakout pick, but the early-season results have not matched the hype.
The Athletic’s Scott Powers and Mark Lazerus reported today that “Lardis is back in [Head Coach Jeff] Blashill’s doghouse.” On Saturday, he was Chicago’s least-used forward and logged just over seven minutes of ice time.
It’s still early, and nobody should be tearing up their preseason expectations over a few games, but the latest usage is still worth noting after how well he looked before the season began.
In Switzerland, former Florida Panthers top prospect Henrik Borgstrom has landed a new deal. HC Fribourg-Gottéron announced on social media that Borgstrom signed a two-year contract extension with the club.
Borgstrom, now 29, was once viewed as a future top-six NHL center after starring at the University of Denver, but he never stuck at the NHL level. He’s built a strong résumé overseas, though, with an AHL All-Star nod and a Calder Cup championship on his record.
He also helped Fribourg-Gottéron win the Swiss National League title last season, and he has two points through two games this season.
In Other News...
Blackhawks Let Buffalo Fix A Problem Chicago Should Have Punished
Buffalos first week of the 2026-27 season has already shown why the margin for error in the NHL is so thin. After opening with a loss to Columbus, the Sabres bounced back against Chicago, and the bigger theme through their first two games has been a power play that still looks like it needs work. There is some roster churn around that, too, with Olen Zellweger back in the lineup, Conor Timmins on injured reserve with no clear timeline, Alex Lyon expected to get back on the practice ice soon and Jason Zucker possibly out for a few weeks with a sports hernia.
For the Blackhawks, the frustrating part is how much of that game was there to be taken. Chicago had a chance to pressure a Buffalo group still sorting itself out, and instead let the Sabres leave with a result that could have been different in a hurry. The schedule does not offer much time to dwell on it, either, with Buffalo heading into a busy stretch against Minnesota and Utah the week of Oct. 5-11, while Chicago is left to sort out a missed opportunity against a team it should have been able to punish. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks' Shaky Start Just Got Tougher Without Another Key Forward
Chicagos uneasy opening to the season took another hit when Andrew Mangiapane was removed from the lineup with a lower-body injury, the latest setback for a team already trying to find its footing. Head coach Jeff Blashill said the forward will be out week to week after getting hurt early in the season-opening game, a night in which he saw limited ice time before leaving. Mangiapane had arrived in Chicago in a mid-season trade from the Edmonton Oilers, giving the Blackhawks another experienced piece to lean on as they tried to get moving.
Instead, the Blackhawks are staring at an 0-3-0 start without one of their newest forwards and without captain Connor Bedard, who is sidelined with a shoulder injury. That leaves the early-season margin for error looking awfully thin, with Chicago already short on production and now forced to absorb another absence from a roster that needed stability right away. [Read more 🡒]
Connor Bedards Return Brings One Big Question For Blackhawks Fans
The Blackhawks were back on the ice Tuesday with Connor Bedard skating in a non-contact sweater as he continues working his way back from shoulder surgery. It was a welcome sight for a team getting ready for its home opener against the St. Louis Blues, especially with Bedard already back in the building and around his teammates while the ramp-up continues.
Jeff Blashill said Bedard is not yet cleared for contact and did not have a timetable for when that could change, which leaves the biggest question hanging over Chicagos early season plans. The encouraging part for the Blackhawks is that Bedard appears to be moving ahead of the original mid-November expectation, but until he can take contact, there is still a meaningful step left in the recovery process. Bowen Byram also returned to practice after the birth of his twins, giving the group a fuller look as opening night approaches. [Read more 🡒]