2020 Flames First Round Targets: Kaiden Guhle

Offensively, Guhle generates most of his opportunities and set-ups via his hard, accurate shot. He doesn’t seem to favor either the wrist shot or the slapper, as both appear equally as effective at zipping through shooting lanes and creating rebounds or second chances. Guhle can generate a significant amount of power behind his shot without much backswing and his release for a defensemen is very quick. The vast majority of his goals came from shots above or near the circles. His passing, on the other hand, is very meat and potatoes, although he goes tape to tape from his forehand or backhand, especially when going D-to-D. Any lack of flair or pizzazz is balanced out with his soft hands and the poise to complete clean passes under intense pressure.

It also needs to be mentioned that Guhle is an incredibly competitive player. He plays on his toes and with a chip on his shoulder, and is able to ramp up his intensity and engagement if the game gets heated. He’s not afraid to play physical, either, throwing big open-ice hits to knock opponents off both their feet and their games. Even though this kind of mentality isn’t as valuable as pure skill, it’s a useful trait nevertheless — it’s always good to have players who won’t get fazed in challenging moments, such as when they’re being deafened by 20,000 fans in an opposing barn late in a playoff game.