Stéphane Waite: “Guhle is the Habs’ only untouchable defender”.

The rumour mill has been in full swing lately, especially since the monster deal involving Cutter Gauthier and Jamie Drysdale.

Trevor Zegras is the name that comes up most often since Gauthier’s departure to Anaheim, for all sorts of reasons.

We know that Zegras is overflowing with talent, even a little too much, which affects certain aspects of his work ethic.

Following the Gauthier deal, it was only natural that trade offers for a player like Zegras should be forthcoming.

In Montreal, fans went wild, and players like Logan Mailloux, Arber Xhekaj and even Kaiden Guhle were offered in a trade for the young Anaheim Ducks star.

Guhle came up a lot, and personally, as much as I love Guhle, I’d sacrifice him for Zegras. The connection between the latter and Cole Caufield already has me salivating, and it’s the offensive punch that Montreal lacks.

You may think I’m crazy, and rightly so, as Guhle is the most beautiful jewel on defense along with Lane Hutson. But to receive, you have to give, and Marco D’Amico is also in favor of sacrificing the young left-handed defender in this type of swap.

However, the former goaltending coach of the Montreal Canadiens disagrees.

Speaking to sports fans on 98.5 FM, Waite was quite clear on the subject of the left-handed defenseman.

It has the merit of being clear.

Among the defenders who have played with the big club this season, Guhle is definitely the one to trade as a very last resort, and only if the return is more than satisfactory.

However, I wouldn’t go so far as to say untouchable, because the Habs are sorely lacking in attacking punch and they also have a surplus of left-handed defensemen. In my book, a trade for a player like Zegras would make sense, but I understand Waite’s point of view on the matter.

If we’re talking about untouchable players, Lane Hutson is, in my opinion, the only defenseman in the Habs organization who can’t leave.

Why is that? Because a defenseman with that kind of talent is very rare. He could become a Quinn Hughes, or if we dream more, a left-handed Cale Makar.

Guhle will be an excellent top-4 all-around defenseman in the NHL. He could even become an Alex Pietrangelo-type defenseman. But I’d rather have a Hughes or a Makar on the team than a Pietrangelo, even though they’re all excellent defensemen.

In brief

– Of course, it had to be the G.O.A.T. of women’s hockey to give Montreal the win.

Team Montreal wins 3-2 at Place Bell thanks to Marie-Philip Poulin’s winning goal!https://t.co/amHvZqJzzz pic.twitter.com/x5hnZeJskJ

– RDS (@RDSca) January 17, 2024

– He has very good statistics.

– Durzi believes that the forward position in hockey is the easiest of all sports.

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– Will we see a 70-goal scorer?

– That’s not much for the 3rd overall pick in the 2018 draft

Jesperi Kotkaniemi in his last 22 games

– 1 goal
– 2 assists
– 3 points

Carolina’s got a good one pic.twitter.com/MY9h0SClDj

– NHL Insider Max Pacioretty (@NHLlnsider67) January 16, 2024