Coming off one of their better games so far this season, fans were wondering what the Montreal Canadiens would have for the conference-leading Boston Bruins on Saturday night. Not only did they manage a win, they put together a performance that could make casual observers wonder whether the Habs should be challenging for conference supremacy in the near future.
Sealing the deal in overtime was none other than Kaiden Guhle, who appears to have proven he’s the true 1D in Montreal right now.
His impact was felt well before the overtime winner, however, most notably during a wild five-on-three penalty kill that could have changed the game. He also recorded a huge assist on Brendan Gallagher’s goal to take the lead early in the third period, the product of a smart and simple play, getting the puck on net quickly.
With the injury to David Savard, and the struggles of Mike Matheson lately, Guhle has emerged as the number one defender for the Canadiens. It is a role he has been considered to be capable of assuming for some time, but not one that pundits were penciling him in for this season. He’s there now, and it is perhaps time to recognize that he’s there to stay.
His physicality is notable. His first pass is crisp, and finds its mark significantly more often than not. He’s rarely guilty of a bad giveaway, and it is growing increasingly surprising for him to give the puck away at all, let alone leading to a scoring chance against. His offensive production is great, but what has really stood out is just how responsible he is in his own zone.
The only gripe at this point is his lack of power play time. The coaching staff needs to recognize what they’re getting out of Guhle, and let him play on one of the units, particularly given their lack of production from the defenders they’ve been using to date. He’s on a 50-point pace without so much as a cup of coffee on the man advantage, so there needs to be some recognition that his offensive talents aren’t being used to their full potential.
Right now, he’s playing like a man capable of leading the defensive corps for the next decade. Giving him more opportunities seems logical, because he looks ready to run with them.
Click the play button below to listen to your full Bottom Six Minutes, also available wherever you get your podcasts. Quick turnaround this time, as we’ll be back after tonight’s game against the Vancouver Canucks.
