The Montreal Canadiens are considering a potential trade involving goalie Samuel Montembeault, whose recent performance may have diminished his standing with the team. Montembeault achieved a notable .902 save percentage during the 2024-25 season while handling 60 starts, marking a high point in his career. However, his performance took a downturn in the subsequent season, where he recorded a significantly lower .872 save percentage and a 3.43 goals-against average over 25 games, which represented some of the worst statistics of his four-year tenure with the club.
With Montembeault’s struggles in goal and the club's decision to promote Jakub Dobes, who has secured a three-year extension valued at $5.36 million annually, the Canadiens are under pressure to offload Montembeault before the season begins. Reports suggest that sports analysts and commentators, including Pierre LeBrun, believe it's unlikely that Montembeault will participate in another game for the Canadiens, indicating a potential shift in the team's roster strategy ahead of the upcoming season. As trade speculation continues, the Canadiens must navigate the implications of both Montembeault's declining performance and Dobes' newfound role as the starting goalie.
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