Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle has had an emergency appendectomy and will be reassessed in a week, according to a team announcement on September 19. The 22-year-old, entering his third NHL season, underwent the surgery on Wednesday, raising concerns about his availability for the upcoming season. “Defenseman Kaiden Guhle had his appendix removed yesterday and he will be reevaluated in seven days,” the announcement stated. Guhle recently completed a solid sophomore season, contributing 22 points (6 goals, 16 assists) in 70 regular-season games and ranking third among Canadiens defenders in average ice time at 20:51 per game.
Drafted 16th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, Guhle has quickly become an essential part of the Canadiens’ young roster during their rebuild. His six-year, $33.3 million contract extension signed in July highlights his significance to the team’s future. While Guhle recovers, the Canadiens are gearing up for their preseason opener on September 23 against the Philadelphia Flyers, with the regular season set to begin on October 9 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. It remains uncertain if Guhle will be ready to play by then.
