Samuel Montembeault's potential conditioning stint creates Canadiens dilemma

The Montreal Canadiens' goaltending situation is about to get a lot more complicated. Samuel Montembeault has returned to team practice and was seen splitting reps with Jacob Fowler and Jakub Dobes.

Montembeault has yet to play in a game this season after getting injured during practice on October 7th. As Montembeault gets closer to returning, the Canadiens will need to determine how to manage their goaltending rotation.

Fowler was called up when Montembeault went down and has excelled, boasting an 8-1-2 record with a 2.14 goals-against average, a .925 save percentage, and two shutouts. Jakub Dobes came into this season as the Canadiens' starter but has struggled, recording a 4.04 goals-against average and an .847 save percentage through seven starts. He looks to have turned the corner, winning his last two starts, but with Montembeault nearing a return, the Canadiens could soon find themselves with three goaltenders competing for playing time.

Montembeault could head to Laval for conditioning stint

Similar to last season, Montembeault could get some game action with the Laval Rocket before the Canadiens decide what to do next. TVA’s Renaud Lavoie reported that Kent Hughes mentioned Montembeault could play a couple of games in Laval to get him back to full fitness.

Sending Montembeault to Laval for a conditioning stint would give the organization a sense of where his game is after the injury. It would also allow Fowler and Dobes to continue as the Canadiens' goalie rotation, but it would only delay the inevitable.

If Montembeault does head to Laval, the Canadiens could find themselves in the same situation they faced late last season once he returns, running a three-goalie rotation.

History tells you that does not work. There are only so many repetitions you can get in practice when you have to share the net among three goalies. Then there is the issue of playing time, as extended stretches between starts could disrupt a goalie's rhythm. The Canadiens buy themselves some time if they do end up sending Montembeault on a conditioning stint, but one thing is clear: they cannot run a three-goalie system when they are all healthy.

Fowler has to remain in Montreal

As it stands, the Canadiens sit third in the Eastern Conference, and Fowler deserves a lot of credit for that. After starting the season in Laval, he has quickly established himself as one of the best goalies so far this season. He gives the team the best chance to win every night, and while the original plan was for him to play this season in the AHL, that is no longer an option.

The Canadiens have a good formula going right now with Fowler and Dobes. Adding another goalie to the mix would only complicate the situation and would likely bring diminishing returns. The best-case scenario for the Canadiens would be for Montembeault to rediscover his preseason form during a potential conditioning stint, allowing him to showcase his abilities and potentially improve his trade value.

It is an unfortunate situation for Montembeault to be in, especially after winning a spot on the roster in the preseason. However, with Fowler playing at this level, sending him back to Laval would be difficult to justify. Adding in that, Dobes signed a contract extension before this offseason, and Montembeault being an unrestricted free agent after this season, it time to move on from the veteran netminder.