A Winning Habit
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Montreal Canadiens: 7 Talking Points

By Sebastian High

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 04: Carey Price #31 of the Montreal Canadiens tends goal against the Ottawa Senators during the first period at the Bell Centre on February 4, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Ottawa Senators defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 04: Carey Price #31 of the Montreal Canadiens tends goal against the Ottawa Senators during the first period at the Bell Centre on February 4, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Ottawa Senators defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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MONTREAL, QC – FEBRUARY 22: Kaiden Guhle #2 of the Laval Rocket skates against the Manitoba Moose in his first career AHL game during the second period at the Bell Centre on February 22, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Manitoba Moose defeated the Laval Rocket 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC – FEBRUARY 22: Kaiden Guhle #2 of the Laval Rocket skates against the Manitoba Moose in his first career AHL game during the second period at the Bell Centre on February 22, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Manitoba Moose defeated the Laval Rocket 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

5. Kaiden Guhle

I liked but didn’t love the Canadiens’ selection of Kaiden Guhle a few months ago. I figured the team’s prospect pool at left defence was already more than deep enough with Norlinder, Struble, Harris, Romanov and Fairbrother. My opinion has changed since then. Guhle has been fantastic in most games he has played since his drafting.

I thought he had the best World Junior tournament of any Habs prospect and by a good margin. His mix of physicality and mobility is rare. He reminds me a little bit of Josh Anderson as a defenseman, but with less speed and more agility. Not only has Kaiden Guhle not looked out of place in the AHL as a 19-year-old, but he has been among Laval’s best defencemen. He’s not as far from the NHL as I had previously thought.

While Guhle has a good shot and decent offensive instincts, his bread and butter is his defensive play, specifically his rush defence. The opposing team simply does not get sustained offensive-zone possession when entering on Guhle’s side. He has great gap control and just smothers the puck when defending the rush.

The key area that Guhle needs to improve is his play in transition, offensively that is. His first pass can be an issue, though I noticed it far less in Laval and during the World Juniors than in his games in the WHL a year ago. He will return to his Prince-Albert Raiders this weekend and will begin his duties as team captain.

Guhle was also more involved offensively with the Rocket than I’d anticipated, taking a good few shots from interesting angles and participating off the rush, including this attempt:

Oh, and he hits too:

I’ve become quite excited about this prospect since late-December. He certainly fits the identity the Canadiens seem to be striving for: being great fun to watch.

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