Lane Hutson has recently gained attention among the Habs for his impressive performances, and it’s great to see the rookie defenseman making a quick impact on the team’s success. Meanwhile, another young defenseman, Kaiden Guhle, though less spotlighted, has been performing admirably on defense since the season began.
Guhle’s statistics are notable; he not only supports the offense but also averages 22:10 minutes per game, playing a key role in all six of the Habs’ 5-on-5 goals. He has quickly become an essential part of the young defensive lineup, especially impressive considering he had appendix surgery on September 18, which kept him out for most of training camp. He only participated in the last preseason game against the Ottawa Senators.
Upon his return, Guhle felt prepared to play and was pleasantly surprised by how quickly he regained his confidence and performance level. His readiness for the season is a positive sign, and his contributions could significantly enhance the team’s overall success.
The Habs have a young defensive group, with Guhle bringing 117 games of NHL experience, making him the third most experienced defenseman on the team after David Savard and Mike Matheson. At his young age, he needs to solidify his role among the team’s emerging veterans as they aim to rebuild.
If Guhle maintains his solid play for around 22 minutes per game, he can provide stability to the blue line during games, which is crucial for improving the team’s even-strength goal differential—as the Habs need if they’re aiming for competitiveness. Additionally, with Hutson’s strong showing (4 assists in 3 games) and Logan Mailloux’s performance with the Laval Rocket (2 goals, 2 assists in 2 games), the foundation of the team’s future defense is starting to take shape.
