Samuel Montembeault has been a familiar face in the Montreal Canadiens’ crease for the last few seasons. At times, he carried the load during the rebuild and gave the team solid performances when stability in net was hard to find. However, as the Canadiens push through the final stretch of the season and begin to look toward the future, Montembeault’s role with the organization suddenly appears far less certain.
Struggles This Season
The biggest reason behind the uncertainty surrounding Montembeault is his performance this season. In 25 appearances, the Canadiens goaltender posted a 10-8-4 record with a 3.43 goals-against average and an .872 save percentage. Those numbers simply aren’t good enough for a team that is trying to remain competitive in a tight playoff race.
While wins and losses can sometimes be misleading for goaltenders playing behind inconsistent teams, the underlying numbers tell a similar story. Montembeault has struggled with consistency throughout the season, allowing several goals in key moments and failing to provide the kind of stability the Canadiens hoped for in net. For a team that is trying to take the next step in its development, reliability in goal is crucial.
There have certainly been stretches in previous seasons where Montembeault stepped up and gave Montreal strong goaltending when the roster around him was still developing. However, this season has been a different story. The Canadiens need dependable performances night after night, and the struggles Montembeault has experienced have made it difficult for the coaching staff to continue relying on him as a primary option.
Canadiens Turning to Youth in Net
At the same time Montembeault has struggled, the Canadiens appear ready to give their younger goaltenders a bigger opportunity. That became especially clear during the second game of a back-to-back on Wednesday when Montreal chose to start Jacob Fowler against the Ottawa Senators instead of Montembeault.
Fowler responded with an excellent performance, helping the Canadiens secure an important victory. The decision to start the young goaltender in that situation spoke volumes about the organization’s current mindset. With the season entering its most important stretch, Montreal showed it was willing to trust its younger goaltenders rather than turn back to Montembeault.
Related: The Fowler Recall: Canadiens’ Playoff Starter Debate
Fowler has been one of the most exciting young goaltending prospects in the Canadiens’ system, and his strong play has only strengthened the argument that the team’s future in net may already be on the roster. Meanwhile, Jakub Dobes has also been pushing for more opportunities and could very well be part of the plan moving forward.
With the Canadiens battling in a tight race and every game becoming increasingly important, the coaching staff may decide that the best approach is to roll with Dobes and Fowler for the remainder of the season. If both goaltenders continue to perform well, it could leave Montembeault watching from the sidelines.
An Uncertain Future in Montreal
Looking beyond this season, Montembeault’s future with the Canadiens is far from guaranteed. The 29-year-old goaltender is scheduled to earn $3.15 million next season, and with the organization appearing ready to transition toward its younger options in net, that contract could become a key factor in the team’s decision-making.
One possibility is that the Canadiens attempt to trade Montembeault during the offseason. A change of scenery could benefit both sides, allowing Montembeault to get a fresh start with another team while Montreal continues to move forward with its younger goaltenders. There are always teams looking for experienced depth in goal, and Montembeault could still provide value in the right situation.
Another option would be for the Canadiens to buy out the final year of his contract if they feel confident that Fowler and Dobes are ready to take on bigger roles. While buyouts are never an ideal scenario, it would allow Montreal to free up some cap space and fully commit to the next generation of goaltenders.
For now, the situation remains uncertain. Montembeault has been an important part of the Canadiens during the rebuild, and his contributions shouldn’t be overlooked. But as the team continues to evolve and new talent emerges, the reality of professional sports often means difficult decisions have to be made.
With the Canadiens placing more trust in their young goaltenders and the offseason approaching, Montembeault’s time in Montreal could very well be nearing its end. Whether he gets another start this season, or ever again in a Canadiens uniform, is suddenly very much up in the air.
