The Canadian | The Savard-Guhle duo, chapter 2

A year ago, David Savard praised Kaiden Guhle’s calmness in possession of the puck, as well as his talent and positioning.

Simon Olivier Lorange
The Press

On Friday morning, the second day of Habs training camp, the two were back together again in an intrasquad game. The verdict of the Quebecer on the one he is eleven years older? “He’s even calmer with the puck! »

Unlike last year, the experience has a good chance of going beyond camp and into the “real” season, in three weeks.

In the fall of 2021, let’s remember, Guhle had left a strong impression, but he was finally transferred to the junior ranks, where he proved to be a dominant player. His junior career over, the next step would logically be to move to the American League. But he might never go through Laval.

The openings in defense are obvious, even more so since the back injury suffered by Joel Edmundson and which we do not know if it will be healed in time for the start of the season.

But Guhle isn’t just filling a need. His ease on the ice is obvious – surprising, even for a 20-year-old player. The sample is limited, but Friday’s intrasquad game showed a young man in control, effective in his zone and fluid with the puck. He very nearly scored what would have become the only goal of the game, but his wrist shot, released after a reception of the puck at the entrance of the zone, ended its race on the post.

Drafted in 2020 by the former administration of the Canadian, Guhle landed at camp with the feeling of starting “from zero”. The current members of the management have “seen him little play”, he recalled. He will have a lot to do before fully adapting to a higher pace, but he says he is ready to face it. Despite his 40 points in 42 games in his final junior campaign, he doesn’t see himself as an offensive defenseman per se, although he says he’s ready to go more offensively if asked.

David Savard was asked if he expected to see his partner start his first season in the NHL soon. “I would like that!” he replied. It looks good on the ice. It’s up to him to take his chance, especially since there is room. It’s gonna be fun. »

Without getting carried away, Martin St-Louis hailed Guhle’s “maturity” on the ice, referring to an “intelligent” player who “reads” his partner well. He is “confident” that the young man “will play in the NHL”, but clarified that he still needs coaching.

Workload

In addition to the Savard-Guhle duo, Michael Matheson and Justin Barron are also reunited in a veteran-rookie combination that could start the season together. The two main pairings on Friday were Chris Wideman and Corey Schueneman as well as Jordan Harris and Arber Xhekaj.

We are already starting to talk about it a lot, but the youth are very, very present, in particular because of the absence of Joel Edmundson. The Manitoban, one of the centerpieces of the defense, did a lot of work at even strength and shorthanded.

Until he returns, David Savard will inevitably see his responsibilities increase.

In numerical disadvantage, one can even wonder who will be able to help him. Matheson has not played in this phase of play for two years. In 245 NHL games, Chris Wideman has played just under 17 minutes short of a man. All other shorthanded contributors from last year are gone.

It’s not customary to give rookie defensemen short of a man much work – only seven of them spent at least 1:30 on the ice per game last season.

“I think it’s up to everyone to get on board and sacrifice themselves for the team,” said Savard. Matheson played shorthanded in his first NHL seasons with the Florida Panthers.

Savard and him are also the two players that Martin St-Louis has identified as being the best able to absorb Joel Edmundson’s workload. “Savvy arrived in excellent physical condition at camp, I’m very impressed,” he said of the Quebecer. He’s going to be a big part of our defense. »

At 31, David Savard is the dean of the team’s backs. As Brendan Gallagher had done the day before, he was delighted to have been able to enjoy a full summer of fitness, after a season marked in particular by injuries which cost him 20 games.

Given the intention of the CH coaches to bring together a team that will be resolutely attacking, Savard has mainly focused on cardiovascular endurance work rather than strength training. “Adjustments” to his routine had to be made.

He says he is ready to take the necklace back; also ready to play full-time the role of big brother to his young playmates.

In particular, the latter will have to learn “against whom they play”. “That’s the biggest adjustment, continued number 58. You no longer have juniors in front of you; suddenly it’s Patrick Kane. »

“These are things we will discuss in preparation for games. If I can allow them to avoid things that made me look crazy when I started, I will! »

He is, moreover, encouraged by the attitude of the young wolves around him.

“I see their will, the way they have to prepare. They arrived in good shape at camp. They are ready to listen. We will help them, and they will improve quickly. »

In short

Evans already back

Jake Evans was among the surprise guests on Thursday’s crippled list, but he doesn’t look like a player who will be away for long. The center was indeed at his post on Friday and participated in one of the two intrasquad games of the day. Everything leads us to believe that he has no contraindication to receiving checks. Two other cripples also walked the rink, but without playing the simulated games: Sean Monahan and Logan Mailloux. The former did so in a jersey identical to that of his teammates, while the latter was still dressed in powder blue, suggesting he cannot take contact.

Broken finger for Roy

For his part, Joshua Roy was back in action, having missed the rookie tournament. The forward fractured the little finger of his left hand in a preseason game with the Sherbrooke Phœnix. He had high hopes of participating in the rookie tournament in Buffalo, and even showed up in Brossard with his suitcase last week. But the team preferred to play it safe and asked him to stay in Quebec. Roy therefore took part in the day’s exercises using a special glove for his right hand, since his little finger and ring finger were glued together.

In the words of Joe Sakic

“The first half of my career, I had to prove that I belonged in the NHL. And the second half, I had to prove that I still had my place there. These words are those of Joe Sakic, legendary former player of the Quebec Nordiques and the Colorado Avalanche. As part of a meeting bringing together all the players invited to the CH training camp on Wednesday evening, general manager Kent Hughes submitted this quote to the players as motivation. In order to remind everyone that basically, nothing is ever acquired. The message has been heard: without consulting each other, three players have spoken these words in front of journalists over the past two days. To the point where members of the media spontaneously giggled when Rem Pitlick initiated the quote. “Ah, you’ve heard it before, huh?” “, amused the attacker, himself far from being assured of a position.

Dach makes a good impression

Looking at him, David Savard remembers Pierre-Luc Dubois, given his large size and his ability to protect the puck. Rem Pitlick, he is moved by his backhand shot, which he suspects of being inspired by that of Patrick Kane. Kirby Dach left his teammates admiring Friday after the first intrasquad game. The newcomer, acquired during the summer, notably scored a goal in the penalty shootout. Martin St-Louis, too, said he was “impressed by the way he behaves on the ice and by his level of skill”. He agreed, however, that his performance in the face-off circle will need to improve.

Guillaume Lefrancois and Simon-Olivier Lorange, The Press