Montreal Canadiens: What To Expect From Kaiden Guhle In Year Two?

The Montreal Canadiens are still waiting to see what exactly their first-round selection from the 2020 Draft will develop into, but a 44-game stint for the rugged defenseman in 2022-23 was very telling.

With Ottawa Senators Jake Sanderson signing an eight-year deal with an aav just north of eight million a season, it seems likely that had Kaiden Guhle stayed healthy, he would have matched or passed Sanderson’s offensive output. On a much worse team and with less than ideal defence partners Guhle showed he would be a big piece for the Habs going forward. Now, with a season of experience under his belt, Guhle should only look more poised and show increased growth.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying Sanderson is better than Guhle, or the other way around. Both are highly talented, but they are different players, and the Senators and Canadiens are not at the same place, in terms of readiness to compete. However, the poise and maturity that Guhle showed in his rookie season was impressive, and if it’s any indication of what’s to come, Kent Hughes would be wise to get an extension ironed out sooner rather than later.

The largest determining factor will of course be Guhle’s play during the second year of his entry-level pact. This should show growth in his defensive awareness and his strong three-way mobility, which was quite impressive in year one. I would think that an uptick in his offensive production, making more high-danger passes and using his excellent shot more, should definitely be a good start.

His 18 points in 44 games weren’t anything spectacular, but his responsible game predicated on smooth skating and a smart stick is what makes him valuable. So long as he continues to play smart hockey, and he can stay healthy I don’t see why he can’t hit 35-40 points on the low end. Any projection is difficult, so while I believe he can produce more than 40 points, and establish himself as a lock on one of the top two pairs, it’s best to let his play do the talking.

One thing can be sure, if Hughes doesn’t start piecing together an extension for Guhle now, he could find himself having to increase the value of a deal for the young Alberta native. And right now, I would argue that he is already the second-best defenseman on the roster, behind only Mike Matheson. So a healthy season, with a steady partner that isn’t Savard could go an awful long way in increasing his production, and the value of his contract once his entry-level deal expires.

Guhle might not be flashy or a strictly shutout defender, but his ability to affect the game positively in all three zones makes him a very important piece for the Canadiens. Learning defensive tricks from Savard and honing his offensive skills watching Matheson will prove to be an asset for his development. The sky is the limit, and Guhle has the raw talent to become a top-pairing defender, in my opinion.

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