Kahkonen Would Provide the Shakup the Canadiens Need

Struble found positioning and forced Point to the outside. Yes, his feet stopped moving; an extra step may have made the difference, but he forced Point to go wide enough that goaltender Jakub Dobes was facing a right-handed shooter on his right side, making it simpler to cut angles. Yet, somehow, he was beaten on the far side, meaning he was too deep into his net. Two errors and it’s a goal, which seems to sum up the team’s issues this season.  

Montreal’s expected goals against (xGA) is 62.44, yet they are 28th in the NHL with 105 goals against. That’s 42 goals more than expected. This doesn’t point to the defence; it’s an indictment of their goaltending. 

Canadiens Need a Shake Up 

In past seasons, fans could point to injuries as the cause of Montreal’s problems, but this season, despite a few major injuries, the team continues to score and see solid performances. Instead, the Habs have the third-worst goals against above expected  (GAAx) in the NHL, trailing only the Ottawa Senators and Buffalo Sabres. Basically, their goalies aren’t stopping shots that an average goalie would. 

Dobes ranks 50^th in the NHL with a virtual even +0.1 goals saved above expected (GSAx), which meets expectations for his current role as backup. The real issue is Samuel Montembeault’s  GSAx of –6.3. His inconsistent performances are essentially dragging the team down. In the NHL, consistency is the key to success, which Calgary Flames prospect Matvei Gridin told  RG in a one-on-one interview. 

“Consistency is probably the most important thing an NHL coach will look for, and I think if you can find consistency, you’re going to play lots of minutes. I can’t say I’ve really found consistency in my game yet; I play great on some nights, but others are a little tougher,”

-Matvei Gridin 

This leads to the inevitable need for a shakeup, which is exactly what the Canadiens did with a dramatic call-up immediately following their one-sided loss to the Lightning.

On Tuesday, management called up Owen Beck, Adam Engstrom and goaltender Jacob Fowler from the Laval Rocket. Engstrom’s arrival should provide more mobility on defence, but it is also an indication that another player will sit on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Owen Beck’s call-up points to a need for more speed and two-way responsible play in the bottom six.

Finally, there is Fowler. His save percentage (SV%) of .919 in the American Hockey League (AHL) is far better than Dobes’ (.887) or Montembeault’s (.858), but he has yet to play an NHL game. As long as this is a short call-up to give Fowler a treat for his strong play and not management relying on him to turn the season around, this move could be an effective wake-up call for the rest of the roster. Otherwise, there is the concern that the organization is rushing his development as they did with Cayden Primeau, who struggled with the team and was eventually traded. 

A trade is also not the answer. The only players available on the market are more of what they already have. Instead, management should call up Kaapo Kahkonen.  

Kahkonen was signed in the offseason to add goaltending depth. The 29-year-old has 140 games of NHL experience with a career SV% of .898. While it isn’t ideal, it is better than what we’ve seen from the team’s two starters. Kahkonen brings a competitive and athletic style, something the Canadiens could use.  

He is known for his excellent lateral movement, which would help, given the number of cross-ice passes deep in their zone the Canadiens have allowed recently. His veteran composure could also calm the team even after allowing a goal. He handles the puck well and competes for positioning to stop a shot, something the Canadiens saw him do well in the AHL when he led the Charlotte Checkers to a four-game sweep of the Laval Rocket in the 2025 semi-finals. 

Playing Kahkonen, with his strong puck-handling skills, would help the team relieve pressure on dump-ins, allowing for the Canadiens’ mobile defence to lead much quicker breakouts and improve their transition game. It would also force opponents to rethink their strategy, at least for now. Finally, it would allow Fowler to return to the AHL to continue his development as the starting goalie without the pressures of playing in Montreal. In the end, the roster needs a psychological and momentum boost by introducing a veteran goaltender who is already in their system.