Montreal Canadiens’ Alex Newhook Injury opens door to move – Hockey writers – montreal canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens’ promising start to 2025-26 has officially hit the first major roadblock. Kaiden Guhle and Alex Newhook will be separated for a long time. The team announced yesterday that Guhle, who was initially expected to miss four to six weeks, will now be closer to eight to ten weeks, as he underwent surgery on his acrocror, pushing his possible return to early 2026.
Meanwhile, NewHook, who was enjoying one of the best seasons of his career, will miss four months, sitting him out until March with an injury. For a team without Patrik Laine, the timing couldn’t have been worse.
A hard hit at a hard time
Few players embody the Canadiens’ young defensive core like Guhle. Reliable, physical, and prolific with the puck, Guhle should have missed a little extension, but the extended timeline changes the outlook significantly. His absence takes away one of the team’s most reliable defenders and even a powerful and deadly kill piece. This organization has been counting on Guhle to make Bluelene stable.
Related: Canadiens’ Hutson Joins Elite Company After 100 NHL Games
Up front, the loss of NewHook is more pronounced because of the context. Newhook found immediate chemistry on a line with two rookies: Ivan Demidov and Oliver Kapanen. Not only was he helping to block defensively, but he was also driving and producing well.
The line has become one of Montreal’s most dynamic units early in the season. Six goals and six assists through his first 17 games tied him for fifth on the team in scoring, and most importantly, he was giving the Canadiens the secondary they lost last season. Losing four months meant losing a quick, powerful forechecker who lifted his linemates.
Montreal’s Soval Semperofmem was founded on balance and depth, not relying on stars like Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, demidov, and Labane Hutson, but also on complementary pieces like NewHook and Lufle.
Did the Canadiens explore a trade?
With Laine already established, the Canadiens depth chart is dwindling quickly. They’ve missed Jared Davidson for now, and Davidson brings power and can fill a bottom-six role, leading to NewHook’s TOP-Nine TOP position. That’s why the conversation naturally turns to outsourcing.
General manager Kent Hughes has never been the type to rush into a panic trade, but this situation at least forces the front office to explore options. Could the Canadiens be looking at a temporary handicap offensively? It is possible. This team continues to be competitive in the standings, but losing four of their last five games shows that the magic of the first season is a little over, and the depth of the goals is suddenly a question mark.
Hockey trades are always unpopular unless they involve a player on term, but Hughes could explore a waiver claim or an expensive trade. The Canadiens don’t need a superstar; They need someone to strengthen the team up front, especially if Demidov and Kapanen stay together. Risk relies heavily on rookies during a challenging stretch.
However, patience is possible. If the team continues to compete in December, the temptation to add more will only increase.
To check the depth and thickness
Every competitive franchise reaches a point in its growth where it must prove it can weather storms. With Montreal, that time is now. The Canadiens started the season with confidence and excitement, fueled by some talent and an improved team structure.
But losing four of its last five, and now losing both Guhle (who was already out) and Newhook for extended periods, marks the first test of their depth. Injuries don’t just force a lineup change; They affect the rhythm, chemistry, special teams, and confidence of a young roster.
On defense, players like Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj will still be relied upon. Stuble, in particular, has been getting solid minutes and is now essential next to Hutson. On offense, the responsibility is growing for veterans like Josh Anderson and Breeman Gallagher, who must help form a line that relies heavily on youth. It also puts a lot of pressure on Demidov and Kapanen, who thrived with NewHook but will now need to adjust without him.
This situation will reveal a lot about the long-term direction of the Canadiens. Strong teams don’t fall down when important pieces come down; They adapt, they grind, they find ways to stay competitive. Montreal wants to take the next step in contention, and these next few months will show if the foundation is strong enough to endure the hardships.
