For the month of May, aside from the NHL Draft lottery, there isn’t much going on. So here at A Winning Habit, I’ve decided to rank the 24 best Canadiens under 24 years old. I opted to rank players that are closest to the NHL, so aside from David Reinbacher, there are no 2023 Draftees.
So, without further ado, let’s go ahead with the 4th best player, in my opinion, Kaiden Guhle.
Kaiden Guhle came out of the Western Hockey League looking like an absolute stud, winning the WHL Championship. He was also named the playoff MVP, after scoring 16 points through 19 games with the Edmonton Oil Kings. The Alberta native was physically a menace; he could break up plays in a few strides while creating quick plays with smart passes.
Guhle's NHL career is only two seasons old, but already he does things against the opposition's best that leave you shaking your head. He can make plays under duress while looking like he is having his morning cup of java in a rocking chair. At just 22 years old, Guhle is the brightest young star on the Canadiens blueline, while overshadowed by Lane Hutson, Guhle is likely to be a constant for the Habs.
His physical ways in junior haven't exactly translated to the NHL, but it is all part of him adapting to the time and space he has. Guhle has shown a knack for making the right choices routinely, seldom making mistakes from rushing or forcing the play. Generally, the best defenders can make good decisions that are high percentage and you can chalk Guhle into that conversation.
While he may never be a big point producer, he does have some tangible skills that remind me of Alex Pietrangelo and Jaccob Slavin. I am not comparing them or even suggesting that Guhle is at their level, because he isn't, not yet anyway. But he commands attention when he is on the ice and does all the little things right, to an extent where it looks like a regular thing.
Guhle is far from a finished product and that is why he is such an interesting player. It wasn't all sunshine and rainbows during the 2023-24 season, there were some hiccups in his transition to the top pair. But he showed an ability to adapt and never look overwhelmed by the pressure.
For now, Guhle ranks as the fourth-best under-24 player and the highest-ranked defenseman in the organization. Since the number one ranked player on the list will age out after this edition of the under-24 list, Guhle may climb a spot higher. But it won't be without the competition from Hutson clawing closely behind.