Have the Canadiens finally acquired their number one goalie to replace Carey Price?

Published January 22, 2023 at 10:10 PM
BY MARCO

Since Jake Allen was placed on the injured list, Samuel Montembeault has proven beyond any doubt that he can hold his own in the NHL.

In his last five games, the Canadiens goaltender has won three of his five starts. He has posted an efficiency average above .925 in every game he has played.

In addition, he has been bombarded with 175 shots on goal and has really given his team a chance to win every night.

With his great performances, you have to wonder if the organization has found its number one goalie for the next few seasons. Informant Marc-Olivier Beaudoin made a rather eloquent comment about the Quebec goalie on his Twitter account.


I'd still be curious to see Samuel Montembeault play behind a solid defense (like the Hurricanes, say).

He's capable of delivering the goods with an ordinary defense, imagine behind an excellent one!


It must be said that the Canadiens' defense is rather young and has not been spared from injuries this season. David Savard, Joel Edmundson, Michael Matheson and Kaiden Guhle have all been on the injured list at one point or another during the year.

I'm not saying that Montembeault will be the Habs number one goalie for the next ten years, but he has been delivering the goods since the beginning of the season. This could put a little less pressure on Kent Hughes to go out and get a goalie on the trade market.

At only $1 million per year until the end of 2024, he is probably the best bargain in the NHL since the beginning of the season.

That being said, even if Jake Allen is sparkling in his return to the game, it will be difficult for him to dislodge the Quebec goalie from the CH net.
POLL
January 22   |   704 answers
Have the Canadiens finally acquired their number one goalie to replace Carey Price?

Do you think Martin St-Louis should give the number one goalie position to Samuel Montembeault until the end of the season?

Yes61487.2 %
No9012.8 %
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