BROSSARD — A small but curious scene at the CN Complex on Tuesday morning raised questions about the readiness of Montreal Canadiens defenceman Kaiden Guhle for the upcoming season.
Separated from the group
During a practice observed at Rink #1 and Rink #2 at the facility, reporters and onlookers noted an unusual split in how some players were deployed. On Rink #1, three goaltenders and six defencemen were on the ice; on Rink #2, Guhle appeared alone and dressed in a tracksuit rather than the full hockey equipment his teammates were wearing.
The presence of the three goalies — Jakub Dobes, Samuel Montembeault and Jacob Fowler — and the six defence players was contrasted by Guhle's solitary skate, after which he left when the forwards later took the ice. The scene was documented on social media by a local observer.
"Is Kaiden Guhle injured? It's a fair question, since this morning in Brossard, my colleague Patrick Guillet observed a situation that was quite curious and unusual."
Context and history
Guhle has not been a frequent presence on the Brossard ice this summer; aside from Tuesday, he was noted at the Complex on Aug. 17 but was not on the ice then either. The defender usually spends summers in Alberta and has been absent from public training sessions in Brossard through much of the offseason.
The veteran of several injury setbacks over the past four years, Guhle has a documented history of missing significant time for various issues including the knee, ankle, head, quadriceps and groin. That background makes any variation from the team’s normal on-ice routine noteworthy to observers and fans.
What was seen at the CN Complex
| Rink | Players observed | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rink #1 | Jakub Dobes, Samuel Montembeault, Jacob Fowler; Nosh Dobson, Mike Matheson, Alexandre Carrier, Lane Hutson, Jayden Struble, Arber Xhekaj | Full on-ice participants |
| Rink #2 | Kaiden Guhle | Skated in tracksuit; left before forwards joined |
- The observation occurred during a morning practice at the CN Complex in Brossard.
- Guhle skated separately and was not in full gear while most teammates were participating on the ice.
- He was noted at the Complex previously on Aug. 17 but again not on-ice that day.
From what was visible, there was no public confirmation from team officials at the time of the observation. Journalists and fans can reasonably infer that a player who is healthy and fully participating would generally follow the same on-ice pattern as teammates during a public practice; this morning’s departure from that pattern is why questions about Guhle’s status have surfaced.
Implications for training camp and season availability
Training camp and preseason practices are an important period for players to demonstrate readiness and for teams to finalise rosters and pairings. Any early indication that a regular starter is undergoing a different protocol can affect coaching decisions and fan expectations. Given Guhle’s prior injury history, observers will be watching subsequent practices at the CN Complex and official communications from the Canadiens for clarification.
For now, the scene at Brossard remains an open question: the defenceman was seen apart from his teammates in a tracksuit and left before the team’s forward group took the ice. Until the club provides an update, reporters and supporters will likely continue to monitor the situation at the CN Complex for further signs of whether Guhle will be available at the start of camp and into the season.
