Montembeault Was There When the Canadiens Needed Him: Now What?
One of the strangest things about rebuilding an NHL team is that eventually the rebuild starts creating problems. That sounds backwards, but it happens all the time. The Montreal Canadiens are a good example of this kind of “problem.”
Montembeault used to be the guy in Montreal.
A few years ago, Samuel Montembeault was exactly what the Canadiens needed. The team was trying to find stability after years of uncertainty in goal. He was affordable, dependable, and willing to take on a difficult job while the organization figured out where it was going. He wasn’t supposed to be the problem. He was supposed to be part of the solution.
And for a while, he was. Montembeault became a fan favourite. He handled the pressure of playing in Montreal. He represented the team well. He stayed professional through some difficult seasons when the Canadiens were clearly rebuilding.
But hockey has a funny way of changing the questions. The question used to be: “Can Montembeault become the Canadiens’ answer in goal?” Now the question is: “How do the Canadiens move forward without disrespecting the player who helped them get here?”
Related: Did the Canadiens Underestimate Emil Heineman?
Moving on from Montembeault is a tougher question.
Montembeault reportedly does not want to go through another three-goalie situation. Honestly, it is difficult to blame him. Goalies are different from other players. They need rhythm. They need confidence. They need to know when they are playing and when they are sitting.
A three-goalie rotation usually means somebody loses. And most often, it is the veteran who ends up watching games from the wrong seat. The Canadiens now have Jakub Dobes, who looks ready for a bigger opportunity. They also have Jacob Fowler, one of the organization’s most exciting prospects.
That is a good problem for Montreal to have. But it is still a problem.
Montembeault isn’t a bad goalie; he may simply be the odd man out.
The difficult part for Kent Hughes is that moving on from Montembeault is not about replacing a bad player. It is about recognizing that the timeline has changed. That happens in every rebuild.
Fans often think rebuilding is simple. Find young players, develop them, and wait for the future to arrive. But one hard part is deciding what to do with the players who helped you get there. Montembeault deserves credit for what he has done in Montreal. He helped provide stability through a difficult transition period. He gave the organization stability when it needed it.
But respect does not always mean keeping someone forever.
If you’re Montembeault, you might welcome the chance to play somewhere else.
Sometimes the respectful move is to give a player the chance to play somewhere else rather than asking him to join a crowded situation that does not work for anyone. A few years ago, Montembeault was part of the answer. Now, the Canadiens may have reached the point where the future is asking a different question.
Right now, the challenge for Montreal is not finding talent. It is knowing when the next chapter has arrived.