The Montreal Canadiens announced that they have re-signed goaltender Samuel Montembeault to a three-year extension worth 3.15 million per year, there are no trade restrictions on the contract. Montembeault joined Montreal after being claimed off waivers from the Florida Panthers back in October 2021 and was given a two-year deal worth $2 million in July of 2020. During his time in Montreal, Montembeault has gone 29-40-10 with a 3.50 GAA, .898SV%, and one shutout. He has played in 113 NHL games with a 38-48-13 record with a 3.42 GAA, .897 SV%, and one shutout as he spent time with the Florida Panthers before coming to the Montreal Canadiens. Montreal has started the season off by giving all three of their netminders a chance as no one has taken the reins as the true number one, as Cayden Primeau has gotten five starts, going 2-3 with a 3.72 GAA, and .875 SV%.
The signing of Montembeault all but signals that Montreal is going to move either Jake Allen or Cayden Primeau, as both of those guys are signed through the 2024-25 season. Both of these guys have value, and coming into the season, it was thought that Cayden Primeau would start the year in Laval, but he needed waivers to be sent down, and if he hits waivers, there’s a strong chance that a team would have picked him up and taken the risk on him. It will be very interesting to see which one of these two goaltenders gets dealt and what Montreal is able to get back in return.
