No Denying Sam Montembeault is the Montreal Canadiens Number One Goalie

While it is only two games, the Montreal Canadiens have something special in goaltender Sam Montembeault.

After recording an NHL 48-save shutout against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night, many wondered how he would follow that up against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night. Well, all he does is stop 24 of 25 shots faced in the Canadiens’ 4-1 win over the ‘Pesky Sens from Ottawa.

While everyone seems surprised by Montembeault’s start, those who follow the Canadiens and Montembeault closely are not shocked by his excellent play. After being claimed off of waivers in October 2021, he has been part of a goalie rotation with the Canadiens. But his numbers have only been improving on a team that was rebuilding.

Last season was the first year of a three-year extension with an annual average value of $3.150 million. He finished with a record of 16-15-9 in 41 appearances, including 40 starts. He had a 3.14 GAA and a .903 save percentage. The goals against came down, while his save percentage went up. The year before, he had a 3.42 GAA and a .901 save percentage in 40 appearances and 39 starts.

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During the 2022-23 season, you could see the signs that he could be a starter for the Canadiens moving forward. Once Jake Allen was traded at the deadline last season, it became the Sam Montembeault and Cayden Primeau show. That trade has benefited all parties.

So, with the talk earlier in the off-season about Yaroslav Askarov potentially being traded to the Montreal Canadiens. Askarov was traded to the San Jose Sharks from the Nashville Predators. We had to ask Jared Book of Eyes on the Prize on the Full Press NHL Podcast his thoughts on the Canadiens goaltending and if he thought that position was secure with Sam Montembeault.

“I think that they’re happy with the goaltending they have. I think for so many years, this team was built around Carey Price, and it’s an adjustment to make not to have to be reliant on your goaltender,” Book said. “But I think the team that they’re building is a team that doesn’t have to be reliant on their goaltender. They won’t ask their goaltender to make 40 saves or not allow more than two goals. (Montembeault did that opening night).”

As we mentioned earlier, Montembeault is making $3.150 million. So if the Canadiens want to add they can because the cap hit is not that high.

 “So I think that they’re okay. They don’t really have much invested in there, like Montembeault even if they add somebody else that,he’s making under $4 million, that’s 1B money. But I think that they’re perfectly happy with that tandem. They have Jacob Fowler in the wings as well,” Book said. “So I don’t think there’s an expectation to have to add, like a big star goaltender. I think that they’ll go a route where, if they have to add, you know, maybe the veteran presence behind Montembeault or alongside Montembeault, they can. 

I think they’re perfectly fine for where they are. But if, if the goaltending lets them down, then that’s a place that they have to improve if they want to take the next step. But for right now, I think it’s fine. I think they have faith that Samuel Montembeault will be the goaltender that takes them to the playoffs, maybe not lead them to a cup, necessarily. But I think that it’s fine.”

We have seen what Sam Montembeault has done on the International Stage, with Team Canada winning a gold medal at the World Championships. The ability is there. The Montreal Canadiens are a team on the rise. Montembeault is the perfect goalie for this young group as they grow together and try to play meaningful games late in the season.