The Montreal Canadiens got some awful injury news regarding one of their top defenseman. Kaiden Guhle will miss four to six weeks, the team announced on Saturday.
The injury apparently occurred during a non-contact play. Guhle can be seen hitting the ice without significant contact from the Nashville Predators player in his vicinity. Check out the play here.
The injury is of the lower-body variety. Judging from the replay and Guhle’s reaction, it could be a groin issue. Guhle dealt with a groin injury during training camp. The injury caused him to miss preseason time, though he did make the Opening Night roster.
It’s the second season Guhle has dealt with injuries. Last season, Guhle played in just 55 games due to a knee injury. In those 55 matchups, he scored six goals and 18 points. The Canadiens are still high on Guhle, signing him to a six-year extension heading into this season.
The hope is that Guhle will recover well enough, as the Canadiens are off to a hot start. Since Montreal sees itself as a playoff team, it will need Guhle to be a full strength.
Canadiens to Deploy Xhekaj in Guhle’s Absence
Kaiden Guhle’s injury will prompt the Canadiens to deploy tough-guy blueliner Arber Xhekaj. Xhekaj, who is widely known for his rough-and-tumble play, will likely get in on the third pairing with Alexandre Carrier.
Xhekaj adds plenty of punch and grit to the Montreal lineup, if a limited offensive upside. But with Lane Hutson and Noah Dobson, the Canadiens don’t need Xhekaj to score a ton of goals. It would be surprising to see Xhekaj hit the ice for more than 10 minutes a night.
Nevertheless, the Habs have found Xkehaj to be a valuable heart-and-soul player on the team. So, fans should anticipate Xkehaj getting a long look in Guhle’s absence. But that look could be a limited one if Xhekaj does not live up to expectations.
Habs Have Other Internal Options at Defense
The Canadiens have other internal options at defense. Marc del Gaizo could get a call-up if Xkekaj struggles. Del Gaizo had a decent camp, but couldn’t break through a relatively crowded Habs blue line.
Nathan Clurman is another depth blueliner who might get a look at some point. The Colorado native has been a steady presence with the AHL’s Laval Rocket. The 27-year-old is on a one-year deal and might get his last shot with the organization.
Prospect David Reinbacher is an intriguing option. He’s the Canadiens’ top blue line prospect at this point. However, injuries have held him back, as well. He’s currently out with a hand injury. But if Guhle misses more time than expected, Reinbacher may get a look at some point.
It’s worth pointing out that the Canadiens may be in the market for another depth defenseman. So, Montreal fans should keep an eye on the waiver wire as the club may look to pluck an NHL-caliber blueliner hitting the waiver wire at some point this season.
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