What can the Habs do about their goaltending?

Now losers of five straight, four of which have come in regulation, the Montreal Canadiens are reeling. With one more game at the Bell Centre before they embark on a tough road swing through the western United States, this streak could become interminable if they can’t figure out a way to get some key saves here and there.

For the second time just during this losing streak, the Habs had to yank their starting goaltender. Also for the second time during said streak, it didn’t help.

Jakub Dobes replaces Samuel Montembeault after yet another tough outing for the veteran.

Capitals scored three goals on eight shots. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/4G0MsvLzNl

— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) November 21, 2025

Samuel Montembeault allowed three goals on 10 shots, getting the hook rather early in the second period. Jakub Dobes didn’t fare any better in relief for, allowing another four goals, and not looking any better than his fellow netminder at all. The team is not without flaws outside of the crease, but goaltending has been their most persistent problem during this losing streak, and on the whole through their 20 games to date.

So, let’s lay out the options they have at this juncture to address that problem, of which it seems there are four.

Option one: pray that at least one of them can figure it out

The option of doing nothing would likely infuriate a large portion of the fan base who are thinking about the playoffs. Conversely, it would come to the delight of those who are starting to think about firing up the tank talk.

We have seen better from both netminders, but whether either of them have it in them to play their way out of this valley is unknown. Is this a coaching issue? An equipment issue? Do they need to see a sports psychologist? The organization will need to identify ways to get them right, because doing nothing from a personnel standpoint can’t mean doing literally nothing at all, and hoping they magically figure it out on their own.

Alas, this option is essentially what they’re doing as of this writing, so the next three will lay out possibilities for change.

Option two: trade for some help

If this were an easy option to exercise, the Edmonton Oilers would have done it by now. So, while this may be a necessary option to lay out for the purpose of this article, it’s hard to see a world where the prices teams are asking for would be worth paying if Edmonton hasn’t done it yet.

The second-line centre role has been a concerning problem for some time, and even that is one that the team isn’t quite at the point where they should be overpaying to address it. I can’t see a universe where Kent Hughes is selling the farm just to stop bleeding goals against. It exists as an option, but we can probably rule it out as a real solution right now.

Option three: call up Kaapo Kähkönen

Dobes remains waiver exempt, so he can be sent to the Laval Rocket without the risk of losing him. The most experienced goaltender in Laval right now is Kähkönen, who through six games with the Rocket is sporting a 2.35 GAA and a .919 save percentage. AHL numbers rarely translate on a straight line to the NHL, but

There is somewhat of a permanent nature to such a move, however, as he would need waivers to go back to Laval. If it works, they’ll have found a stopgap solution, but if it doesn’t, they could lose him as an option permanently on the waiver wire, which could be a detriment to the success of their AHL club.

Unlike an overpay trade, this option has to at least be on the table for Kent Hughes right now.

Option four: call up Jacob Fowler

This is somewhat of a controversial topic that will split the fan base if you bring it up. There are those who are clamouring to see Fowler get a crack at the crease, eager to see what the heir apparent to Carey Price can bring. Then there are those who feel it is far too soon, and that the club would be gambling his future by bringing him up at 20-years-old and just 21 total games of AHL experience, including playoffs.

But like Kähkönen, Fowler’s services should at least be on the table. Through 10 games this season, he sports a 2.11 GAA, a .921 save percentage, and has been better than Kähkönen. If you’re operating as a pure meritocracy, Fowler is first in line. If you’re operating more with caution around his development, he has to stay where he is.

Putting the team’s hopes for the season on the shoulders of a 20-year-old rookie isn’t ideal, but I would venture to guess that at bare minimum, they’ve considered it.

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