Montreal Canadiens defenceman Kaiden Guhle will be out indefinitely after undergoing surgery to repair a lacerated quadriceps muscle, the team announced Wednesday.
Guhle was released from the hospital Wednesday, a day after suffering the injury when he tangled his legs and fell into the boards during Montreal’s 4-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets.
«Where are we going to feel ‘Guhls’? I think everywhere,» Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said after Wednesday’s practice. «He plays a lot of minutes at 5-on-5, he kills penalties. I don’t think it’s in one specific area, but his presence will be felt, that he’s not here, but he’s not a player that’s going to replace him.»
Guhle, who signed a six-year, $33.3 million contract extension before the season, has recorded 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) and averaged 21:14 of ice time in 44 games.
Guhle, 23, has totaled 54 points (14 goals, 40 assists) in 158 career games since being selected by Montreal with the 16th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft.
Also on Wednesday, defenceman Jayden Struble was called up from Laval of the American Hockey League. Struble has five points (two goals, three assists) in 26 games with the Canadiens this season.