Canadiens Add Players at Trade Deadline for Playoff Push

The Montreal Canadiens are getting hot at just the right time, and it’s no coincidence their surge lines up with Kaiden Guhle’s return to the lineup.

The team has gone an impressive 6-1-1 since Guhle came back, if you don’t count that weird game against Carolina where they tried playing with seven defensemen.

Guhle’s been eating up big minutes too – about 21 minutes per game. That’s right in line with what he was doing before getting hurt, and it’s enough to rank him third on the team in ice time.

He’s been rock solid alongside rookie Lane Hutson, forming what looks like the Habs’ new top defensive pair. Talk about a nice surprise – it’s like getting a top defenseman at the trade deadline without giving up anything.

Most fans had feared Guhle’s injury would keep him out until next season. His early return has been pure bonus.

The Canadiens’ forward group is about to get even more interesting. Oliver Kapanen has been filling in on what could be called the second line, playing with Alex Newhook and Patrik Laine since coming over from Sweden.

Sure, Kapanen’s only put up two assists in his 17 NHL games. But we’re talking about a 6-foot-2 center who just put up 35 points in 36 games overseas. There’s definitely something there.

But here’s where things get really exciting.

The Habs just signed their prized prospect Ivan Demidov after he wrapped up his season in Russia, and he’s expected to make his debut Monday against Chicago.

This kid is special. At just 19 years old, he broke Kirill Kaprizov’s record for most points by an under-20 player in the KHL, putting up 49 points in 65 games.

General Manager Kent Hughes is so high on Demidov that there’s buzz he might have taken him first overall if the Canadiens had won last year’s draft lottery.

The Habs aren’t about to compete for the Stanley Cup, but that’s not the point right now. They’re pushing for a playoff spot that nobody expected them to be near this season.

For a rebuilding team, that’s already a huge win. And with reinforcements like Demidov arriving ahead of schedule, the future’s looking brighter by the day.