The Montreal Canadiens might be the scariest team in the Atlantic Division this season. They are sitting in third place in the Atlantic Division with 42 games played and 52 points, with two games in hand over the first-place Detroit Red Wings.
They're playing well despite injuries to players like Jake Evans, Patrik Laine, Alex Newhook, and Kaiden Guhle. Luckily for the Habs, Guhle is closing in on making a big return, and it can't come at a better time.
Eric Engels noted on X that Guhle is is close to returning, saying, "Just based on practice, think it's more likely Guhle plays Thursday than Wednesday. Bringing him back on second half of back-to-back makes more sense, but we'll see..."
Kaiden Guhle's imminent return will add another dimension to the Canadiens' defense
Regardless of when they bring back Guhle, a Habs team will take things up a notch. Guhle is one of the Canadiens' most gifted defense-first players, and he has been a staple for this young hockey team since the 2022-23 season, when he appeared in 44 games and immediately became a physical force on the top four.
Guhle has also made a living blocking pucks left and right, recording 178 in 70 games in 2023-24 before turning around and blocking 124 across 55 contests in 2024-25. This season, Guhle had just five blocks in five games, but his 16 body checks signaled that he was sliding into a role as the sledgehammer the Canadiens needed.
Guhle has also been a reliable presence on the Canadiens' penalty kill unit, logging over 117 minutes in 2024-25. Also in 2024-25, Guhle's even-strength numbers saw his on-ice shooting percentage hit 11.3 while his on-ice save percentage sat at 91.2. Before a groin injury sidelined him in October, Guhle's on-ice shooting percentage was an astounding 15.4, while his on-ice save percentage clocked in at 92.7.
Kaiden Guhle will be skating in front of a dynamic goaltending trio
While Kaiden Guhle makes the Canadiens better defensively, he's also adding another layer to a team whose goaltending trio picked up the pace lately. Sam Montembeault, Jakub Dobes, and Jacob Fowler are all performing at a high level following a seven-game road trip in which they all saw action and looked good. So getting back the defensive-minded Guhle is a nightmare scenario for opponents.
To make matters worse for opponents, the Habs are fifth in scoring with 139 goals. With an elite offense, solid goaltending, and Guhle in the mix, teams will need to catch Montreal on a bad night if they plan on beating them.
Remember, the Canadiens are still banged up. So, if they're playing this well with Guhle just now returning to action, how well will they play when others, like the high-energy Jake Evans, also return? Chances are, the Canadiens will be one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.