RALEIGH, N.C. — Kaiden Guhle of the Canadiens has a scar about four inches long on his right leg. It serves as a constant reminder of what he calls the most frightening moment of his life.
The 23-year-old defenseman injured himself during a game against the Winnipeg Jets on January 28th. Falling awkwardly in the third period of the game, which Montreal lost 4-1, Guhle didn`t initially understand the extent of the injury. He knew he had fallen into the boards and his left skate had sliced into his right quadriceps.
Beyond the immediate pain, Guhle felt an urgent need for medical help.
“These things happen quickly, and you`re not sure what`s actually going on,” Guhle stated on Friday. This was shortly after his first game back since surgery to repair the muscle two months prior. “Considering what happened, it was the best possible outcome – no nerve or artery damage. But at the moment, you`re unaware. It was scary, and I hope neither I nor anyone else has to experience that again.”
The accident itself was one thing, but the uncertainty about the severity of the injury was another layer of fear.
Guhle visibly trembled as he recounted the event on Friday.
“When I looked at my leg, I can`t repeat what I said,” Guhle admitted. “I knew it was serious.”
If the femoral artery had been cut, the injury could have been fatal. The tense ambulance ride to the hospital was filled with this uncertainty.
“In the ambulance, the medical staff focused on stopping the bleeding because they weren`t immediately sure if an artery had been affected,” Guhle explained. “I didn`t know for sure at that time, but once we arrived at the hospital and they confirmed the bleeding was under control, I felt more confident that I would be okay.”
Following successful surgery, the initial recovery timeline was estimated at three to four months.
An optimistic scenario of eight to ten weeks was also mentioned, although Guhle initially considered it ambitious.
“Initially, it felt like my progress stalled, and things weren`t improving,” he recalled. “Then, suddenly, I turned a corner and was back in the gym, regaining my strength and doing the necessary work.”
Guhle resumed lower body workouts four weeks post-surgery. A week later, he was skating again on his own. After rejoining full practices before the Canadiens` four-game road trip that started on Monday, he played 19:07 in Friday’s game against the Hurricanes.
“The doctors and staff were incredible in my recovery and in helping me regain my strength,” Guhle praised. “Thankfully, the recovery was much faster than expected.”
Despite the quicker recovery, the 21 games he missed felt long for Guhle.
This injury was also one of several significant breaks for the Edmonton native since being drafted in 2016. Previous issues included head traumas limiting him to 70 games last season, and ankle and knee injuries that sidelined him for 38 games during his rookie season.
However, this injury was different – a freak accident he won`t soon forget.
The scar on his leg will be a permanent reminder.
While the scar will fade, Guhle hopes this is his last major injury incident as he finishes this season and begins his six-year, $33.3 million contract with the Canadiens, signed last summer.
While nothing is guaranteed, Guhle is now taking extra precaution by wearing cut-resistant bodysuit under his gear to minimize future risks.
