Montreal Canadiens: Kaiden Guhle set for debut after making roster

The Montreal Canadiens have continued to trim down their roster, getting to their final landing spot as the 2022-23 season inches closer. The team announced their “opening night” roster on Twitter on Monday with a graphic showing the layout.

The Montreal Canadiens’ defense core will be a light crop of names as they are only carrying six players into the opening night the way things stand. Arber Xhekaj was reportedly told he made the team, so there may be some subsequent roster moves, but according to the Habs graphic, this is the group they plan to head into battle with to start the season.

Beyond any Xhekaj news, there was good news for those awaiting a Kaiden Guhle debut. He was listed as one of the defenders making the roster and is not set for his NHL debut with the Canadiens to kick off the 2022-23 season.

Montreal Canadiens defender Kaiden Guhle set for NHL debut.

After a strong showing in the Prospects Challenge and training camp, the 2020 first-rounder will get his chance to join the Habs NHL squad. He bypasses Laval Rocket (sort of) and will find himself manning the blueline with the Habs to start the 2022-23 season.

Guhle is coming off a 2021-22 season where he played for the Edmonton Oil Kings and Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL. He totaled 42 games played between the two teams, where he scored seven goals and added 33 assists for a total of 40 points.

Since being drafted, Guhle has continued his time in the WHL, besides a three-game stint in Laval during the 2020-21 season. However, the left-handed shooting defenseman will start the year with the Habs, avoiding a start in Laval.

As the Habs are trying to champion, being sent to Laval should not be viewed as a super-negative demotion. With a focus on development this season, they are trying to get these younger players who may bounce between the NHL and AHL levels to view the AHL as a chance to fine-tune things and develop before re-joining the Habs.

While it’s still a demotion and no one will like it, trying to embrace it is essential. These prospects can be sent down, get a reset in, work on development and come back to the Canadiens looking to make a difference.

For Guhle, he may end up back in Laval, but with his strong performance this fall, he looked like he could hang in the NHL earned him a spot on the opening night roster. Guhle has looked well-rounded on the ice.

He’s found the back of the net and been able to create scoring chances in the offensive zone. But more importantly, he’s looked smooth in the transition aspects of the game, breaking the puck out and getting the team moving out of the defensive zone.

While this was in pre-season games, and the tempo will go up another notch during the regular season, with such a strong performance in many aspects, he earned his chance to man the blue line.

I’d expect Guhle to get looks alongside a veteran like David Savard or Chris Wideman. Someone who can help him adjust to the pace and intensity of the NHL level as the regular season begins. Guhle is not staring down a Calder performance, but he will get his chance to get his feet wet in 2022-23.

After a strong camp and making the roster, the Habs should be excited to see how Guhle pans out as the 2022-23 season kicks off.