NHL trade deadline ‘part of the business’: Canadiens’ Kaiden Guhle

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While it’s highly unlikely defenceman Kaiden Guhle will be traded this week, he’ll be watching the events with interest, hoping he doesn’t lose any of his teammates.

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The Canadiens begin a three-game swing through California Tuesday night with a date against the San Jose Sharks, and will be in Anaheim Friday when the NHL trade deadline comes at 3 p.m. Historically, it always seems like the Canadiens are on the road — they were in Calgary last season — when the deadline for deals is met.

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“You try not to look at it, really,” Guhle told The Gazette last week following practice in Brossard. “Obviously it’s part of the business and there’s a trade deadline every year. You know it’s coming, but you try not to look at it and just worry about the team that you’re on at the time; worry about the guys you have on your team at the time. Whatever happens happens. Obviously you never want to see one go, but it’s part of the business — the sh—y part.”

While there has been speculation the Canadiens could make a play for Blues forward Robert Thomas or goaltender Jordan Binnington, the team also was in a playoff position before facing the Sharks, occupying the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Montreal (33-17-9) is one point behind Buffalo and Detroit in the Atlantic Division, but holds a game in hand on the Sabres and two on the Red Wings.

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It was at roughly this point last season that captain Nick Suzuki approached general manager Kent Hughes, imploring him not to do anything drastic at the deadline. Hughes listened and the team went 10-5-5 down the stretch, making the playoffs for the first time in four seasons as the final wild-card qualifier in the conference.

On Monday, following practice at the SAP Center in San Jose, Suzuki said there’s no necessity to approach Hughes again this season.

“There’s less of a cloud hanging over guys’ heads,” Suzuki told the media. “That has allowed us to play a little more free. It showed the last couple of games. I definitely won’t be having the same conversation (with Hughes) I had last year. I have full faith in (management) and their process. Whatever happens, the players will be on board.”

Coming out of the break for the Winter Olympics, the Canadiens split a pair of home games, losing against the New York Islanders in overtime before defeating Washington 6-2 last Saturday. Montreal easily could have won both, squandering leads of 2-0 and 3-2 to New York. The Canadiens entered the break on a roll, going 4-0-1, and have been playing some of their best hockey this season.

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And with the return of Alex Newhook from his fractured ankle, the team is the healthiest, and deepest, it has been, now forced to make two forwards and a defenceman healthy scratches each game.

“I think this is our strongest roster,” Guhle said. “We have a lot of good young pieces that came in. Lane (Hutson) last year. (Ivan) Demidov this year. A lot of guys on our team have taken a big step. (Juraj) Slafkovsky has taken a huge step. We’ve had some injuries, but this is probably the healthiest our team has been for a while. I definitely feel like we have the pieces to do it.”

Guhle hopes his run of significant injuries has come to an end.

Only five games into this season he suffered a partial tear of the adductor muscle that required surgery in November. He missed 39 games before returning on Jan. 10. Last season it was a deep cut to his quadriceps muscle from a skate during a Jan. 18 game against Winnipeg. Surgery was required and Guhle missed two months. There also was a knee injury during the 2023-24 season.

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“Any time I go through a tough stretch I come back to playing hard and defending well,” said the 24-year-old, who has a goal and four points in 19 games. “I feel like everything else kind of falls into place. Get into the game early, while knowing mistakes are going to happen. Just get through it.”

Guhle is confident the Canadiens won’t have to wait until their final game this season to secure a playoff berth. He believes the experience they gained a year ago, playing significant late-season games, can only benefit the squad.

“We know what we have to do, and we’re trying to set the standard,” he said. “We’re not really looking at the playoff race. We’re looking at the big picture and trying to set the standard for our team. It definitely gives us more confidence as a group, knowing after the break we usually do pretty well and come out strong.”

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