The ménage à trois could be used until the end of the season

At the start of the season, everyone was saying the same thing about the Montreal Canadiens’ three-man frontline.

And yet… There are still three goaltenders in the Tricolore line-up at the time of writing.

Kent Hughes finds himself in a somewhat precarious situation because he can’t send Cayden Primeau to the waivers, otherwise the Habs will abandon all the work they’ve accomplished with the young goaltender over the past few years.

Had the Habs’ GM had the offer he was looking for for Jake Allen, he’d probably be playing elsewhere today. That said, Allen is still in town and it makes you realize that Kent Hughes isn’t necessarily in a hurry to trade Allen, even if he does have experience and could be useful to a team looking to improve in front of the net.

David Pagnotta even opens the door to a three-way trade for the rest of the season, should Hughes not receive the necessary offer to move his veteran.

However, the Canadiens seem in no hurry to move Allen, and are comfortable keeping three goalies in the line-up all season if the right offer doesn’t come along. – David Pagnotta

When you look at the stats of the three goalkeepers so far this season, you realize that the ménage à trois is working relatively well.

But in all this, there’s one thing that’s important. Three-way or not, the Canadiens must allow Samuel Montembeault to get more starts than his two teammates.

He’s the Habs’ long-term goaltender, and that’s why Kent Hughes gave him a contract extension. Monty deserves to play more because he’s in his prime, because he’s got a new contract and because he’s performed so well so far this season.

As long as Montembeault is playing en masse and Primeau is able to progress, the rest… I don’t seem to mind so much.

The work can be split between Allen and Primeau for the future, and there’s no problem with that, because it gives the youngster experience and because the veteran can still guide the club’s youngsters (both players and goalkeepers).

Jake Allen will be in front of the Habs net tomorrow night against the Panthers, and it will be interesting to see how the goalies are used going forward.

Logically, we should see Montembeault play against the Lightning on December 31, as he hasn’t played since the game in Minnesota (December 21).

In gusto

– I like his equipment.

Thank you, Jacob Fowler. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/w23uMmbmON

– Nathan “Grav” (@NathanGraviteh) December 29, 2023

– Still.

U.S. wins shootout over Czech Republic pic.twitter.com/KH4yyePwWo

– RDS (@RDSca) December 29, 2023

– He was so young!

Every time I watch an exciting World Juniors shootout, I remember young Carey Price for Team Canada in 2007 pic.twitter.com/ANuH33ZfeH

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) December 29, 2023

– Lane Hutson was named Player of the Game today.