Projecting The Montreal Canadiens’ 2022-23 Defensive Group

MONTREAL — As the Montreal Canadiens prepare to enter the preseason portion of training camp, the ever-changing landscape on defence has presented a problem and an opportunity.

It’s a problem due to the lack of qualified NHL defenders available, a problem made worse by the injury to Joel Edmundson that will keep him out of action indefinitely. Other than Mike Matheson, David Savard and Chris Wideman, no defensemen at training camp have spent more than 25 games in the NHL.

With that in mind, given his relatively healthy experience in the AHL, 118 games with the Stockton Heat and Laval Rocket, Corey Schueneman is almost assured a spot on the blue line on Oct.10 when the Canadiens open the season against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Bell Centre.

But that still leaves two spots open, as well as a reservist spot if, or rather, when injuries hit.

Fortunately for the Canadiens, the team has several options when it comes to talented defensive prospects.

Players like Kaiden Guhle, Justin Barron, Jordan Harris and Arber Xhekaj have made the most of their opportunity at training camp, separating themselves from the pack when it comes to the Montreal Canadiens’ pecking order on defence.

But they simply do not have enough options on the right side of the defence, which gives us a pretty big clue as to who will fill out the roster on the right side: Barron.

Barron hasn’t been the best defenseman at camp, but he has been incredibly steady, playing a game that could easily translate to the NHL while mitigating potential giveaways due to high-risk plays. He has seven NHL games under his belt, as well as 50 AHL games, giving him the type of insight some of his competition does not possess.

And then there were three.

Unless Guhle suddenly forgets to play hockey, it’s difficult to project anyone else on the blue line. He’s incredibly patient with the puck, has the maturity of a 90-year-old librarian, and has impressed both management and the coaching staff during every single training camp outing.

In addition to being mentally prepared for the jump to the NHL, Guhle is physically ready, giving him the inside track for the defensive job.

With six players in the fold, the defensive pairings may project as such, in no particular numbered order:

Kaiden Guhle – David Savard

Mike Matheson – Justin Barron

Corey Schueneman- Chris Wideman

As you can see, there’s a relatively healthy mix of experience and potential on every pairing, however, there’s a dearth of talent on the blue line. There’s also the matter of minimizing the number of difficult situations to which players like Barron and Guhle will be exposed, which means Martin St.Louis will have to get creative with his usage.

There’s also the matter of the seventh defenseman, a position that would be perfect for a player like Xhekaj, allowing Harris to continue his development in Laval and get accustomed to playing big minutes on his offside on a professional team.

In all likelihood, Kent Hughes will acquire a defenseman between now and the start of the season, but as it stands, the Montreal Canadiens’ defensive group is a very interesting, if not delicate project.