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Canadiens Practice Notes: Dach Injury, New Forward Lines
Marc Dumont
Things have gone from bad to worse for theMontreal Canadiens, as they’veannouncedcentre Kirby Dach will miss four to six weeks with a fractured foot.
This is the latest injury in a string ofunfortunate events TheMontreal Canadienshave provided an update as to Kaiden Guhle and Alex Newhook’s injury status, with both players expected to miss an extended stretch. Forward Alex Newhook fractured his ankle on Thursday night, after he was hauled down and slammed into the boards feet-first. The injury necessitated a surgical intervention, and the recovery time frame is set at four months. And now Newhook is in a lot of pain after slamming feet first into the boards.#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/lisS8C98ZA As for defenceman Kaiden Guhle, he also underwent surgery, to fix a torn abductor muscle, and is expected to miss eight to 10 weeks. Mises à jour médicales au sujet d’Alex Newhook et de Kaiden Guhle Injuries are never a positive development, and we wish both Guhle and Newhook the best of luck during their recovery. With that being said, seeing as theCanadienshave struggled in November, losing players who tend to absorb a fair amount of ice time is yet another obstacle for Martin St-Louis’ team. Newhook’s speed, in particular, had led to a surprising amount of goals from his line, which featured Oliver Kapanen andIvan Demidovon his wings. However, the injury to Newhook will provide St-Louis with a situation that will force him to reconsider his forward lines, and that may end up being a positive development. Despite their goal-scoring prowess, the Newhook line was outshot and outchanced by a fairly wide margin on most nights, making them a defensive liability. Consequently, St-Louis has hesitated to use them when the game is on the line, which has led to very limited ice time at 5v5 for Demidov. With Newhook sidelined, the Canadiens recalled rough-and-tumble forward Jared Davidson from the AHL, a player who is likely to quickly become a fan favourite due to hisold-school style of play. He doesn’t possess Newhook’s speed, but he has one of the best one-timers in the organization, and he plays every shift as if it may be his last. Newhook was expected to miss a long stretch due to the violent nature of the incident that injured him, but the Guhle news comes as a surprise. He was recently spotted skating in Brossard, which suggested a return to play was on the docket. It’s unclear whether Guhle aggravated his injury, but there’s no doubt his prolonged absence will have a significant impact on Montreal’s defensive setup. Simply put, Guhle is Montreal’s garbage disposal, and I say that with the utmost respect. Do you need a player to absorb a ridiculous amount of ice time? That’s a job for Guhle. Is there an assignment that seems unreasonably difficult due to the quality of opponents? Toss it Guhle’s way! Are you hellbent on giving a young defenceman some of the most difficult usage in the league? You know who to call. Statistically speaking, Guhle never produces the type of underlying numbers that would be considered elite, but it’s worth keeping in mind that every player tasked with taking over his minutes tends to struggle, as was the case last season for Alexandre Carrier. In that vein, the Canadiens cannot replace Guhle internally, connoting that they’ll have to continue to deal with his absence by committee.Canadiens Impact Of Guhle And Newhook Injuries
Medical updates on Alex Newhook and Kaiden Guhlepic.twitter.com/ohzSNVbuuGMontreal Canadiens Injuries
Kaiden Guhle Situation
In other words, a lineup that already lacked depth, particularly down the middle of the ice, will not only continue to face a significant amount of adversity, it will also be tested to its limits.
Injury Frequency
There’s a certain connotation any time a player gets labelled as injury-prone, and while it may not be fair in most cases—since injuries tend to be random—the Canadiens cannot ignore the heightened frequency with which some players are forced to miss important games due to yet another health issue.
It’s not a matter of shaming the players, or questioning their mettle, but rather, a sober realization that the Habs have some players who miss more than their fair share of games.
It’s a factor in every sport, and one that the Habs will have to learn to overcome if they hope to qualify for the playoffs this season.
The issue is punctuated by the team’s lack of centre depth, a situation that was a clear-cut problem prior to the injuries impacting both Dach and Newhook.
Simply put, the Canadiens could ill-afford to lose any centres, let alone two that had the potential to play in the top six.
The Next Step For The Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens have recalled prospect Joshua Roy, and he will join his Laval Rocket teammate Jared Davidson prior to Monday’s game versus the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Consequently, the Habs were forced to run newforward linesat practice on Sunday.
Cole Caufield– Nick Suzuki –Juraj Slafkovksy
Joshua Roy (in absentia) – Oliver Kapanen – Ivan Demidov
Zachary Bolduc – Jake Evans – Josh Anderson
Jared Davidson – Joe Veleno – Brendan Gallagher
It remains to be seen if head coach Martin St-Louis will maintain these lines versus the Blue Jackets, but suffice it to say the lack of experience and offensive potential beyondNick Suzuki‘s line leaves a lot to be desired.
And yet, it’s also important to remember that adversity leads to opportunity, and opportunity breeds evolution.
Davidson, who played in his first career NHL game on Saturday, is the perfect example of this phenomenon.
It seemed that Davidson was destined to follow the same path as many before him, including a short stint in the AHL, before evaluating options in Europe to further his career.
However, a new head coach in Laval not only led to an opportunity for Davidson, it powered his evolution into a very interesting prospect who has an affinity for working harder than most, exactly what a team like the Montreal Canadiens needs at this present moment.
Jared Davidson comes as advertised.
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont)November 16, 2025
He's gotten limited ice time, but he's put 4 pucks on net, and he's provided an honest effort every single shift.
I think St-Louis will quickly learn to love this kid.#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/PyMNOfsl9V
Montreal Canadiens Dealing With Adversity
Make no mistake, Davidson won’t solve Montreal’s currently injury situation, nor will any other player who will be called-up from the farm, with all due respect to Roy.
And yet, the adversity will go a long way in telling us whether the youngest team in the NHL is capable of finding another gear, to help them traverse the choppy, injury-riddled waters on which they’re about to set sail.
It will also be an important test of St-Louis’ ability to adapt, as every single coach in the NHL has to deal with injuries.
Such is life in professional sports.
