The Montreal Canadiens may have started their season on a high note, but a troubling shadow is quickly falling over the team’s promising momentum. With Kaiden Guhle sidelined due to injury, fans and analysts alike are beginning to notice something unsettling: the defense just isn’t the same without him.

Saturday night’s matchup against the New York Rangers exposed glaring weaknesses, leaving many to wonder how deep the impact of Guhle’s absence truly runs. Mistakes piled up, stability vanished, and the pressure on goaltender Samuel Montembeault grew heavier with every passing minute.

But is the problem as simple as missing one player? Or is Guhle’s absence revealing something much more concerning about the Canadiens’ defensive core? For the first time this season, new pairings and strategies were tested, yet none seemed to fill the void left by the young defenseman.

As the team scrambles to find answers ahead of their next big game, questions swirl around the locker room and among the fanbase. How will Martin St-Louis respond? Can Montreal’s depth step up, or is this a warning sign of bigger issues to come? The answers may surprise you—and they’re more urgent than anyone expected.

Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle

Photo credit: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports

The Montreal Canadiens may have had an excellent start to the season, but Kaiden Guhle’s long-term absence is already starting to be felt, and that’s not a very good sign.

During Saturday night’s game against the New York Rangers, it quickly became clear how important the young defenseman is for the team’s defense.

With Guhle out with an injury, the Canadiens’ defense really seemed overwhelmed several times, making very costly mistakes and, above all, lacking stability in their zone.

This reality, well highlighted in an article by Mathis Therrien, shows that Guhle represents much more than a rotational defensive player. In fact, he is the player who is most reliable in the big moments.

Kaiden Guhle, a major loss for Martin St-Louis and the Montreal Canadiens

For the first time this season, Arber Xhekaj and Jayden Struble were paired together, but despite a good effort on their part, they cannot absorb Guhle’s heavy minutes or play at his level.

“Kaiden Guhle’s absence was really noticeable last night, as defensively, the team seemed disorganized, and it was obvious that a big piece was missing in the defensive corps.”

– Mathis Therrien

It’s even more worrying when you consider that Samuel Montembeault is going through a more difficult period, with a disappointing start to the season.

The Quebec goalie, already under pressure, cannot compensate for everything when the defense in front of him is disorganized.

Personally, I think the team hasn’t yet found the right way to fill his absence. Guhle brings confidence to everyone, and that’s what makes his injury so impactful.

Martin St-Louis will need to find a way to stabilize his defense, especially before Monday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres. The good news is that the talent and depth are there.