The Montreal Canadiens have been busy over the past 48 hours, re-signing Arber Xhekaj and Justin Barron yesterday and now announcing that they have signed defenseman Kaiden Guhle to a six-year extension worth $33.3 million beginning in the 2025-26 season, as Guhle’s Entry-Level contract expires at the end of the 2024-25 season. This deal will make Guhle the highest-paid defenseman for the Canadiens during the 2025-26 season. Guhle, a first-round pick of the Canadiens in the 2020 NHL Draft, has spent the last two years with the Canadiens, putting up 10 goals and 30 assists for 40 points in 114 games; he finished third among Montreal defensemen in assists behind Mike Matheson and David Savard. The future is bright for the Habs on the blueline.
Prior to going pro, the 22-year-old defenseman spent five seasons in the WHL with the Prince Albert Raider and Edmonton Oil Kings, putting up 22 goals and 78 assists for 100 points in 181 games, and would spend two seasons as the captain of the Raiders. Guhle would win a WHL Championship with the Oil Kings in 2022 and would also be named Playoff MVP that season. This is a solid deal for Montreal, as Guhle is one of their most promising young defensemen on a team with many solid prospects on the blueline. There’s no doubt that the Edmonton, Alberta native will easily find his way into the top four for the Canadiens and has shown that he has no problem playing big minutes if needed.
