Canadiens sign first-round pick Kaiden Guhle to entry-level deal

Prince Albert Raiders defenceman and Canadiens first-round draft pick Kaiden Guhle rolls off a check by Matthew Robertson of the Edmonton Oil Kings during WHL Eastern Conference Championship game in April 2019.

General manager Marc Bergevin continued his busy offseason Tuesday, announcing the Canadiens have agreed to terms on a three-year, entry-level NHL contract with defenceman Kaiden Guhle.

The Canadiens selected the 18-year-old defenceman with the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders in the first round (16th overall) of this year’s NHL Draft.

The contract will pay Guhle US$832,500 in the NHL with a yearly signing bonus of $92,500 for an average annual value of $925,000. The deal includes bonuses that could reach $420,000 per season. The two-way contract will pay Guhle $80,000 if he plays for the AHL’s Laval Rocket.

The 6-foot-2, 186-pound defenceman posted 11-29-40 totals in 64 games last season with Prince Albert and had a plus-23 differential.

Bergevin has already added backup goalie Jake Allen, forwards Josh Anderson and Tyler Toffoli, and defenceman Joel Edmundson to the Canadiens’ lineup during the offseason, while signing forward Brendan Gallagher and Jeff Petry to long-term contract extensions.

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