Insider believes there’s no reason for Montreal Canadiens to have any rush in trading goalie Sam Montembeault | NHL News
The Montreal Canadiens find themselves in an enviable position with their goaltending depth. Three capable netminders currently occupy roster spots as the franchise continues its rebuild. However, that situation raises obvious questions about whether a trade becomes inevitable.However, one insider believes that the 29-year-old doesn’t seem to be in GM Kent Hughes’s plans for the Canadiens going forward. While his recent performances helped them climb back to the top of the Atlantic Division, his issues with form have left too many doubts for the management.
Samuel Montembeault emerges as most likely trade candidate for Montreal Canadiens
Samuel Montembeault represents the most likely goalie to be traded. The question isn’t whether a move happens but rather when Hughes decides to pull the trigger. The 29-year-old veteran has one more season remaining on his contract after this year, with a $3.15 million salary cap hit.That manageable number makes him an attractive trade chip for teams seeking goaltending help without committing massive cap space. Montembeault’s recent performance has been encouraging after a difficult start to the season.Following a two-game conditioning stint with the AHL’s Laval Rocket, the veteran has won his last three starts with Montreal. He’s stopped 77 of 84 shots during that stretch for a .917 save percentage.His overall season numbers remain underwhelming with an 8-6-1 record, a 3.39 goals-against average, and a .869 save percentage. However, the recent improvement suggests Montembeault may have rediscovered his form. That development matters greatly for Hughes’s plans.The GM is clearly hoping Montembeault continues building momentum. Strong play over the next few months would not only help Montreal in the present but also significantly increase the veteran goalie’s trade value ahead of the deadline or during the offseason.The presence of Jacob Fowler and Jakub Dobes gives Montreal an exciting young foundation in goal. However, Hughes doesn’t appear ready to hand the reins entirely to two rookies with a combined 45 games of NHL experience.The most likely scenario sees Hughes rolling with Montembeault and Fowler as the two goalies for the remainder of this season. That arrangement would allow the 21-year-old Fowler to continue developing at the NHL level while keeping Montembeault around as the veteran presence.Dobes would return to Laval under that scenario. The 24-year-old can continue refining his game in the AHL while staying ready for call-up opportunities if needed. The current goaltending depth puts Montreal in an excellent position moving forward.Fowler and Dobes represent the long-term future between the pipes. That makes Montembeault expendable before his contract expires. However, Hughes faces no pressure to rush into a trade at this moment. Letting Montembeault rebuild his value through strong play makes far more sense than moving him when his stock sits at its lowest point. The Canadiens can afford to be patient with their goaltending situation. When the time comes to make a move, Hughes will have options and leverage to maximize the return for Montembeault.Also Read: Alexandre Texier reaches 100-point milestone as Montreal Canadiens Beat Flames 4-1 in recent win
