The Canadian | Kaiden Guhle returns to the ice alone

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle resumed skating alone Thursday morning, a few hours before the preseason game against the Maple Leafs in Toronto.

His health status is assessed on a daily basis.

The young defender missed the start of the Canadiens’ training camp last week after undergoing an appendectomy.

The 22-year-old Albertan is set to play his third NHL season. He scored six goals and had 16 assists in 70 games last winter. This summer, Guhle signed a six-year, $33.3 million contract extension. That deal won’t kick in until next season.

The Canadiens also held a short training session in Brossard, before flying to Toronto for the evening game.

Brandon Gignac and Riley Kidney will see action for the first time this preseason. The rest of the team will be making their second appearance in the preseason schedule.

Of the group, we will obviously have an eye on Hutson and Reinbacher, who will have an NHL partner and who will face the best opposing trios. Kapanen will also have a lot to prove at center of the second line; if the Finn does not join the big club directly, he will return to Timra in Sweden.

The Leafs will indeed feature some talented players, including John Tavares, Max Domi, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Morgan Rielly. Max Pacioretty, who is trying to carve out a place for himself with the club, will also be in uniform against the team he was captain of.

“I had 6 weeks in Sweden before camp, I was ready to come here and I feel comfortable and confident,” Kapanen told the media on site in Brossard. “In the last game and in practice, I felt good, and my confidence is high.

“This challenge (against the Maple Leafs) will be fun. A good challenge for the team and for me. I feel good, I’m looking forward to playing. Every day I have to work hard, and when I get an opportunity, I have to use it to be good.”