As the Canadiens edge closer to training camp, the spotlight has landed on contract talks, roster spots and the shape of the lineup for the coming season. But there’s another name worth watching: Kaiden Guhle, who still isn’t practicing.
There’s no need to hit the alarm button yet, especially with camp not officially underway. Even so, Guhle’s absence deserves attention.
His injury history is part of the equation, and so is the role he plays on Montreal’s blue line. When a defenseman that important is still out, people notice.
When he’s available, Guhle has shown exactly why Montreal took him 16th overall in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He skates well, brings physical edge and can handle tough defensive work.
The Canadiens have already trusted him with difficult matchups against some of the league’s best players. The issue has been getting that version of Guhle on the ice consistently.
That’s been the frustrating thread through his young NHL career: multiple injuries have kept him from building the steady run Montreal wants from one of its key young defensemen. So even if the Canadiens are simply playing it safe before a long season, any stretch like this is worth keeping tabs on.
Montreal does not need Guhle to be practicing in early September to have a strong year. It absolutely does need him healthy when the games start.
After last season’s success, the bar is higher now, and the Canadiens can’t really afford to open the year already leaning on a missing piece from the defense group. Guhle’s mix of size, mobility and defensive reliability is not something you just replace.
The encouraging part for Montreal is that the blue line is in a better place than it used to be. Lane Hutson and Noah Dobson are major pieces.
Mike Matheson is still capable of soaking up important minutes. Alexandre Carrier gives the Canadiens another seasoned option, and Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj have both proven they can step in when called upon.
Behind them, there are also younger defensemen trying to break through. David Reinbacher remains one of the organization’s top prospects and will be looking to push himself into the NHL picture.
Adam Engstrom is another name that could eventually be in the mix. If Guhle’s absence lingers, it could open the door for one of those younger players to make a case.
Montreal also has the flexibility to adjust pairings instead of immediately looking outside the organization. For a short-term issue, the Canadiens have enough depth to get by.
But getting by without Guhle and being at their best without him are very different things. If this stretches into the regular season or becomes a recurring problem, Kent Hughes may have to think about whether more defensive depth is needed.
Individually, this already feels like a meaningful season for Guhle. He’s beyond the stage of being just another young defenseman trying to earn trust. Now the Canadiens need to figure out where he fits in the long-term core.
Hutson has become a cornerstone, Dobson gives Montreal another top-end option, Matheson and Carrier remain important veterans, and prospects like Reinbacher and Engstrom are still pressing forward. Guhle still has the tools to stay right in the middle of that picture, but availability has to be part of the job description.
The next step for him is not necessarily a big offensive leap or a major stylistic overhaul. It’s simpler than that: stay healthy, find consistency and prove Montreal can count on him for a full season.
At his best, Guhle is exactly the kind of defenseman contenders need. He can take on top players, play with physical force, kill penalties and handle hard defensive assignments while others are free to attack.
So no, this current absence does not suddenly change the long-term outlook. There is still time before the regular season.
But with everything Guhle has already been through physically, seeing him off the practice ice again is far from ideal. The Canadiens have options if he needs more time.
What they would prefer, though, is a healthy Guhle showing why he belongs as a major part of their future.
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