​IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectWhen the Montreal Canadiens selected Kaiden Guhle 16th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, they knew they were getting a special player. The former Prince Albert Raiders (Western Hockey League) captain offered a rare combination of high-end mobility, truculence and defensive awareness.His excellence truly came to the forefront following a trade in which the Edmonton Oil Kings paid multiple players, first-round picks, and additional assets to secure his rights. Guhle paved the way for a league championship, scoring with eight goals and 16 points in 19 playoff games with the Oil Kings, and earning WHL Playoff MVP honours along the way.His transition to the NHL has delivered on the original projection of his potential value. Guhle has become a physical, dependable presence on the blue line, capable of shutting down opponents and chipping in with some timely goals. He’s been tasked with some of the most difficult minutes in the NHL from the very get-go, making his introduction to the NHL a figurative baptism by fire.As has been the case throughout his career, Guhle survived his hellish minutes despite his lack of experience, as he immediately earned a job on the blue line at the tender age of 20, much earlier than most defencemen.Unfortunately, there’s been one recurring problem: keeping him on the ice.Guhle has yet to play a full NHL season, with 70 games being his career high. Last season, he managed just 39 games. Some of his injuries have been particularly unfortunate, including the infamous incident in which he sliced his own quadricep muscle.In that vein, when the season started with Guhle sidelined, Canadiens fans were far from shocked. But after missing just four games while recovering from offseason adductor surgery, he’s back – and looking every bit like the defenceman Montreal heavily relies upon.If he can stay healthy, the Canadiens will be in great shape.The Guhle ImpactThe Canadiens got off to a rocky start this season, going 1-2-1 through their first four games without Guhle in the lineup. Since his return to play, they’ve established an impressive 8-1-1 record.That’s quite the turnaround, and while Guhle certainly isn’t the only reason for the team’s success, his impact has been significant.He’s brought much-needed stability to the defensive zone and established himself as one of the team’s most physical players. Through 10 games, Guhle has dished out 26 hits, second on the team behind Josh Anderson, and blocked 13 shots.He’s also eating up plenty of minutes. Averaging 22:49 of ice time per game, Guhle ranks third among Canadiens defencemen behind Lane Hutson and Mike Matheson. He’s surpassed the 25-minute mark twice, playing more than 25 minutes against Buffalo on October 13 and Dallas on October 29.With captain Nick Suzuki also sidelined by an upper-body injury, the Canadiens have needed contributions from just about everyone. Solid goaltending, strong performances from key veterans