Samuel Montembeault put in the shop window: Elliotte Friedman asks the question

Félix Forget
Samuel Montembeault put in the shop window: Elliotte Friedman asks the question
Credit: Getty Images

Samuel Montembeault hasn't had a great season so far. The goaltender struggled for months at the start of the season, to the point where he spent some time in Laval as part of a conditioning program.

He spent about two weeks with the Rocket, including the holiday break.

That said, Monty is now back with the Habs, and things are already looking up for him. He's won his last two starts, and suddenly feels more confident in front of the net.

Except that, in reality, there are currently three goalies in town, which Kent Hughes openly says he doesn't like. And on that subject, it's interesting to learn that Elliotte Friedman, during his 32 Thoughts podcast, wondered whether the Habs were putting Montembeault in the shop window.

And “putting him in the shop window” means “trying to trade him eventually.”

We know that Friedman, who is well connected, doesn't talk for nothing. If he mentioned this scenario, it's probably because it's something that's been mentioned to him. That's not to say that it's certain to happen, but it's interesting to hear him talk about it.

And in fact, the last few days have been reassuring for any team that might want to get their hands on Montembeault. He really seems to have come into his own since returning from Laval… and it's worth remembering that he led the Habs to the playoffs as recently as last year in a true #1 role.

That said, for the Canadiens, trading Montembeault would also come with its share of risk. After all, it would put quite a bit of weight on the shoulders of two young goaltenders in Jacob Fowler and Jakub Dobes, should they be tasked with leading the Habs into the playoffs.

And we know that teams generally like to have at least one veteran in front of the net. It usually helps avoid a storm.

We'll see how it all pans out, but trading Montembeault would be one way of resolving the three-man household in front of the net. Except that, unlike sending one of the two youngsters back to Laval, it's a lot riskier, hehe.


Overtime

– Beware of the trap game, though.

– What do you think?

– Huge news in the NFL: John Harbaugh loses his job in Baltimore.

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