Canadiens’ Defenseman Out Indefinitely After Emergency Surgery
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle has undergone an emergency appendectomy and will be re-evaluated in seven days, the team announced Thursday, September 19. The 22-year-old defenseman, about to enter his third NHL season, had the procedure on Wednesday, leaving his availability for the start of the season in question.
“Defenseman Kaiden Guhle had his appendix removed yesterday and he will be reevaluated in seven days,” the announcement said. Guhle is coming off a strong sophomore campaign where he posted 22 points (6 goals, 16 assists) across 70 regular-season games. He also ranked third among Canadiens’ defenders in average ice time, playing 20:51 per game.
The Habs drafted Guhle with the No. 16 overall pick in the 2020 NHL draft. Since then, Guhle has quickly established himself as a key player for the Canadiens and its young core amid their current rebuild.
Guhle’s six-year, $33.3-million contract extension, signed in July, further cements his role as a cornerstone of the team’s future. As Guhle recovers, the Canadiens are preparing for their preseason opener on Monday, September 23 against the Philadelphia Flyers. The team’s regular season will kicks off at th start of next month, on October 9, against the Toronto Maple Leafs. At this point, it remains to be seen if Guhle will be ready to return by then.
