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Montreal Canadiens: Predicting Habs 2025-26 Defense Pairings

By Ken MacMillan

Oct 28, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle (21) kneels on the ice beside defenseman Justin Barron (52) during warm-up before the game against the Winnipeg Jets at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle (21) kneels on the ice beside defenseman Justin Barron (52) during warm-up before the game against the Winnipeg Jets at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 28, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports /

Kaiden Guhle – Justin Barron

Kaiden Guhle was drafted in the first round by the Canadiens with the 16th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. He was a large defender coming off an impressive season with the Prince Albert Raiders but his development was stunted a bit the following year.

In 2020-21, Guhle played just five regular season games as he suited up for three games with the Laval Rocket and just two with the Raiders before being injured for the rest of the season. He also played seven games with Canada at the World Juniors that season where he won a silver medal.

Upon getting healthy, Guhle has quickly developed into a stud defenseman. It all started when he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers and dominated the WHL Playoffs as he helped them win a championship. He looked like a young Chris Pronger on the blue line, towering over his opponents, shutting everything down in the defensive zone, and adding eight goals and 16 points in 19 games. He was named WHL Playoff MVP that spring.

His current partner, and likely future partner for a long time, and also partner at the World Juniors, is Justin Barron. He started the season as the team’s seventh defenseman but was moved into the lineup when injuries occurred and it seems impossible he will even sit out again.

Barron’s combination of smarts and speed make him a difficult defender to play against and he has grown in leaps and bounds since arriving from the Colorado Avalanche in the Artturi Lehkonen trade.

Guhle is just 21 and Barron recently turned 22. They are going to become a dominant pairing within a couple of years and should take over as the Canadiens top defense pairing by 2025-26.

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