The most impressive part of Guhle's game is he hasn't been started off with low minutes and easy matchups, or been stapled beside a steady reliable partner like Savard to cover his mistakes.
Since coming into the league he's been thrown right into the fire playing 20+ minutes a game against other team's top six players. He's been doing this while playing with a revolving door of inexperienced D partners like Barron, Harris, Kovacevic, or helping stabilize a pair with Matheson to help the vet in Matheson play more offensive.
On top of not looking out of place defensively, he's also put up a 29 point pace over 82 games during his career while playing minimal on the PP.
Don't forget he is also being asked to play on his off hand as well. I really like Matheson but he should be the one who is playing on his off hand imo and letting the kid stick to his strong side. I am sure there is a good reason for this that I am not aware of but it seems odd for the kid to switch in order to protect the vet's game.
This is how I would like to see the D set up to start the season.
Guhle - Matheson (or vice versa)
Hutson - Savard
Xhekaj - Barron
7th D.... Struble/Harris
Laval
Reinbacher
Mailloux
Engstrom
* If Barron is traded then both Struble and Harris stay up and work in a rotation with Xhekaj and possibly Hutson.
* If Harris is traded Struble stays in Montreal and they rotate through Xhekaj/Barron/Struble and possibly Hutson
* If Struble is traded Harris stays up in the same rotation
* If nobody is traded Harris stays in Montreal and Struble goes to Laval
* If multiple dmen are traded.......IDFK
Injuries will obviously play a major role here but there is no point in speculating about who will get hurt and for how long. If Hutson struggles he could very well end up in Laval but I suspect that he starts the season in Montreal.