The Montreal Canadiens are winning hockey games — and they’re doing it without one of their key defensemen. After three seasons where he’s missed significant time, the question is quickly becoming, how much does Kaiden Guhle really matter to this team’s future? The young blueliner, expected be a big part of Montreal’s defensive corps, has struggled to stay healthy since he joined the NHL. When he’s in the lineup, he’s a big piece of the team’s attack and eats big minutes. When he’s not in? The Canadiens don’t seem to miss a beat. Montreal has posted strong results in his absence this season, much like it did last year when Guhle missed significant time. With Jayden Struble stepping up as a reliable replacement and David Reinbacher waiting in the wings, Guhle’s spot isn’t as secure as it once was. The team spent big money on Noah Dobson, and then inked Lane Hutson to a long-term deal ($8.85M extension kicking in next year). Assuming the Canadiens are looking at a new deal for Mike Matheson, their defensive pa
