NHL Update: Montreal Canadiens’ Kaiden Guhle set to return after long-term injury absence

A timely boost is on the way for the Montreal Canadiens as Kaiden Guhle is preparing to re-enter the lineup just in time for Saturday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings. The young defenseman, who has been out for a long period of time due to his injury, brings back the much-needed support during the period of instability in the defensive line that has been caused by injuries and constant rotations in the team’s line-up.

The 20-year-old had missed 39 games after getting a partially torn abductor muscle in the early season. Initially, Guhle was supposed to be out for a short period only since, at the time, it was believed that he might just manage to escape a surgical intervention; however, the medical team finally decided to operate on him, hence prolonging his recovery time. A new update from the team states that Guhle has met all the conditions and is ready to return to action, thereby offering Montreal another reliable option in defense as the playoff race is heating up.

How Kaiden Guhle’s comeback impacts the Montreal Canadiens lineup

The Canadiens said there was no need for any other roster move to be made in order to bring back Guhle to the active squad since Adam Engstrom was sent down to the AHL earlier that week already. This situation made it very easy to clear space and let Montreal put Guhle back in with no further changes. Guhle played five games before his injury and managed to score one goal and one assist, and he was credited with the defensive skills and good positioning he possessed rather than numbers on the score sheet.
It has been revealed by league analysts that since the beginning of the 2022–23 season, Guhle has been the defenseman with the best five-on-five expected goals against rate among the Canadiens, which emphasizes his role in the team of preventing scoring chances. Besides, his comeback means that one player has to go out of the lineup, and Jayden Struble is the one expected to be sidelined, even though he has a total of six assists in 35 games this season.

Head coach Martin St. Louis hasn't given a definitive answer to the defensive pairings, yet Guhle has teamed up with Lane Hutson in the past, and the mixture still remains a viable option. Hutson has further played together with Alexandre Carrier, which gives the coaching staff choices based on the matchups.

In the midst of injuries, the return of Kaiden Guhle could not be better-timed for Montreal. The Canadiens are presently leading the Atlantic Division and gaining strength; thus, his participation not only solidifies the defense but also instills assurance for the upcoming critical divisional clash.

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