The 2024 year was supposed to be different for the Montreal Canadiens. They believed their rebuild was starting to end, and they wondered whether 2024 would end with them looking ahead to a run at the playoffs in 2025. The year ended with a string of wins that elevated them to sixth place in the Atlantic Division, but they are still seven points behind in a playoff race. This series will examine how each player performed over the 2024 calendar year. Next up is shutdown defender Kaiden Guhle.
Guhle tried to get some more offense into his game over the course of 2024, but it didn't lead to much improvement with 19 points over 66 games. He had 18 points in 44 games in his rookie season, but was a -19 over the season. Guhle was a -12 over the 66 games in 2024, which shows that his development could be trending more toward the defensive side of his game. It's probably for the best, as the Canadiens have Lane Hutson, Adam Engstrom, and Logan Mailloux as offensive weapons.
The Canadiens have been chiefly using Guhle on the right side this year, which is out of necessity due to an abundance of left-handed shooters. The recent acquisition of Alexandre Carrier has driven Guhle back to the left side and on a pairing with the newest Hab. Is this Kent Hughes' latest idea for a shutdown pairing once the Canadiens start contending in the next season or two?
The Canadiens love the potential of Guhle if he can stay healthy. It has been an issue for him since joining the league, and he has already been through an upper-body injury stint this season. If Guhle can stay off the injury list and in the lineup to build chemistry with Carrier for the rest of the season, the pairing could be a welcome surprise in 2025.
Kaiden Guhle's 2024 Highlights
It was a successful 2024 for Guhle in the bleu, blanc, et rouge, but his time with the red and white gave a glimpse at his potential for the Canadiens. He was one of Team Canada's best defensemen at the World Championships, recording five points in nine games and playing some stout defense.
Pierre Houde 🐐 with his classic “ET LE BUT” goal call, this time for a Kaiden Guhle 🇨🇦 snipe at the World Championships.
— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) May 14, 2024
We love to hear it 🤌pic.twitter.com/VKb8Q8FdTz
Guhle didn't have many other individual highlights during NHL play for the Canadiens, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. A defenseman like Guhle thrives when he is seen as little as possible on the ice and just does his job and does it well. The Canadiens hope they can see many more years of Guhle playing at that level.