Kaiden Guhle does it all

Kaiden Guhle is one of the Montreal Canadiens' most consistent defensemen, and along with his strong play, he added some fisticuffs to the mix.

During a scrum in front of Samuel Montembeault, Guhle got into a shoving match with Anaheim Ducks forward Ryan Strome. The pair traded a couple of shots, but Guhle impressively took the win. This isn't a part of Guhle's game that I would want to see frequently, but he did show his toughness and his team-first mentality.

I would like to think Strome was well aware Guhle was in no mood to have him bothering the Habs masked man. But the fight has just been more of the same for Guhle, he continues to show up and impress the coaches. He isn't flashy, but to me, he is a perfect 2/3 defenseman who can be relied on in any situation.

He is the type of defender that Stanley Cup-winning franchises need in the lineup, a guy who the team can trust to go into battle with. Guhle plays strong in all three zones, meshing brilliant skating and a strong physical style to excel defensively and chip in offensively. While he has a heavy, hard shot he underutilizes it - but should he change that, he could increase his goal output - but regardless of that, he is a gamer.

Anything else that Guhle adds to his game is a bonus because at this point he is already a really good top-four defenseman. I think he has the potential to play on the top pair long-term, but Lane Hutson and Mike Matheson are in the way. I think that Hutson and Guhle could work now, freeing up Matheson, but that's a story for another day.

Mean Guhle was a presence in junior

During Guhle's time in the Western Hockey League, the native of Edmonton, Alberta was a bruising defender. Anyone who dared cross the blueline was met with a crunching body check, along the boards and in open ice. Guhle doesn't hit quite as often with the Canadiens, but once in a while, he flashes his strength.

I don't love him fighting, but if his game grows to the level it was in junior, then the Habs will have themselves a top pairing gem. But even if he doesn't, I feel that his game tops out as a very good top-four defender. Looking back at the defenders drafted before Guhle at 16, only Jake Sanderson (fifth to Ottawa) and Jamie Drysdale (sixth to Anaheim) went ahead of Guhle.

A do-it-all defenseman who can play big minutes is a sought-after commodity, especially one who hasn't yet hit his prime. Just 22 years old, Guhle still has plenty of room to grow, and his future excites me. When this team takes that next step, I am convinced that Guhle will be one of the more important factors to blame.