The Montreal Canadiens announced they signed goaltender Samuel Montembeault to a contract extension.
The two sides had been negotiating all season, and there had been rumours that they had drifted apart in recent weeks, which may have complicated some of the goaltender trade talks with other teams, but they agreed to sign a three-year contract extension with an annual average value of $3.15 million.
Montembeault has found his rhythm since joining the Canadiens, posting a .901 save percentage last season, as well as a .910 save percentage in his 10 starts this season.
At $3.15 million, the contract is the epitome of reasonable. You could argue Montembeault is worth slightly more than $3.15 million, especially if he continues to be among the top 10 goaltenders in goals saved above expected (GSAA) at 5v5.
Currently, Montembeault ranks seventh in the NHL in GSAA, a rather impressive feat when you consider the Habs allow opponents free rein in the offensive zone.
Flexibility
Montembeault is 27 years old, which means the limited term should work in the Canadiens’ favour. It’s just long enough to ensure a little stability at the goaltending position while also limiting the potential damage if Montembeault’s numbers decline significantly.
In that sense, it should help improve the team during the rebuild, and then the Habs can re-evaluate whether Montembeault is truly their goaltender of the future.
Some may argue that Montembeault should have been traded to take advantage of his current $1 million salary cap hit, and there’s merit to that argument, but the goaltending market rarely yields good dividends. In other words, Montembeault is probably worth more to the Canadiens than whatever type of return was available.
Of course, all this points to the team needing to resolve the three-headed goaltending situation in Montreal.
As it stands, all eyes are on Jake Allen or Cayden Primeau, but there is also the possibility the team may have signed Montembeault to a contract extension as part of a sign-and-trade with another NHL team.
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