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Canadiens Facing Worst-Case Scenario for Kaiden Guhle: Report

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Jan 31, 2025 5:30 AM ET

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle’s injury may be far worse than initially believed.

While the team announced Wednesday that Guhle underwent surgery for a lacerated quadriceps muscle and would be out indefinitely, new details have emerged.

On Thursday's episode of "The Sick Podcast", host Tony Marinaro painted a much grimmer picture of the injury and described the brutal extent of it, suggesting the 23-year-old is almost certainly done for the season.

“Kaiden Guhle was cut, a very nasty cut. He was bleeding a lot. Guhle’s foot was blue, and he was screaming in pain,” Marinaro said. “He had a tourniquet on his thigh to stop the bleeding. There was blood all over the stretcher … Done for the year.”

Le patin gauche de Kaiden Guhle a-t-il coupé le dessus de son genou droit ?

Did Kaiden Guhle’s left skate cut the top of his right knee? @BPMSportsRadio @TVASports @thesickpodcasts pic.twitter.com/RqWdJGCRFu
— Tony Marinaro (@TonyMarinaro) January 29, 2025

The injury, which occurred during Tuesday’s 4–1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, appears to have resulted from Guhle’s own skate cutting into his leg.

Marinaro shared a picture of the moment on X, wondering if that might have been the case.

Kaiden Guhle went straight to the locker room after an awkward fall into the boards in the corner, does not look good at all#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/0loSNxddsP
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) January 29, 2025

Guhle fell awkwardly while making a play late in the third period and did not return to the game.

Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis acknowledged the loss of one of his best blueliners, saying Guhle’s absence will be felt across all areas.

"Where are we going to feel 'Guhls?' I think all over," St. Louis said Wednesday. "He plays a lot of minutes 5-on-5, he kills penalties. I don't think it's one specific (area) but his presence is going to be felt, that he's not here, but it's not one guy that's going to replace him."

Despite the severity of the injury, Guhle was seen at the Bell Centre on crutches Thursday, according to 98.5 FM’s Jeremy Filosa.

"Guhle is walking around the Bell Centre on crutches tonight, putting weight only on his left leg," Filosa wrote on X.

Guhle, who signed a six-year, $33 million extension with the Canadiens before the season, was averaging over 21 minutes of ice time per game and had scored 14 points in 44 games before suffering his injury.

In response to Guhle’s absence, the Canadiens recalled Jayden Struble from the AHL’s Laval Rocket. Struble has five points in 27 NHL games this season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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