Canadiens’ Future In The Net
When the playoffs are over, Montreal Canadiens' GM Kent Hughes will have to roll up his sleeves and find a way to make room for Jacob Fowler with the Habs. That likely means trading Samuel Montembeault and betting on youth.
Video Transcript
Now it looks like Dobish is really the one who's breaking out, and then you've got Jacob Fowler in the wings showing promise in his limited starts, too.
So, Mike, where does this leave Sam Montembault?
Because we thought that he was going to be sort of the goaltender of the future in Montreal.
Even, you know, way before the Olympics happened, he was maybe even on a, a few shortlists for goaltender for Team Canada.
So where do you think that, that leaves him right now?
It leaves him on the short list of goalies that are gonna be traded in the off season, along with Jordan Binnington and Anthony Stolarz.
I mean, you know, the, the free agent class is terrible.
It's Stuart Skinner and Freddie Anderson, and anybody who's seen Freddie Anderson, he can- can't stay healthy any longer.
So Stuart Skinner, and we know it's Skinner does really well, and that's lose Stanley Cup finals.
so, you know, I think that, you know, Montembault, it hasn't been a great year for him.
Dobish has stepped up a little bit, but his overall, statistics this year, he's only a .900 save percentage.
So, you know, Montreal is still a team that's learning how to play good team defense.
They have dynamic offensive players, and Lane Hudson is one of the best offensive defensemen in the league.
But the reason that I'm not exactly high on them in terms of their playoff situation is they have to play better defensively to win playoff games, and if they come up against a Buffalo or a Carolina in the first round, it's gonna be tough for them.
but, you know, Dobish probably is the guy they go to to start the playoffs, but I wouldn't be surprised if he falters that they go with Fowler.
Fowler is the future.
He's the guy who everybody thinks is gonna be their number one goalie, their next Carey Price.
So they, they may decide the future is now, and if they get down in a series, they may go to Fowler.
But I think they'll start the playoffs with Dobish as their n- as their number one.
Ooh, I, I think Fowler's the number one for me.
And, you know, I, I like the, the idea of the young kid coming in, nothing to lose.
What is he, like, 21 years old?
You know what's kind of funny, Emma?
Like, you mentioned, like, Montembault was thought of as the goalie of the future for Montreal, and I think there's this idea out there that he is a young and up-and-coming guy.
He's turning 30 this year, and I know 30 is not old, but, you know, he's not a young guy anymore.
This is his fifth year in Montreal.
Before that, he was with Florida.
So, you know, enough is enough.
Like, I think I've-- I think Montreal fans have seen enough out of Montembault.
They see the future, the real future, in Fowler and Dobich.
So easy decision.
I just don't know, is there a team that has seen, enough out of Montembault where they're like, "Yeah, this guy could be a legit number one," or is he now backup status for most NHL clubs?
Well, well, let me just interject one thing.
I mean, how many number ones, true number ones, are there in the NHL right now?
You've got, you know- I don't have one hand Vasilevsky, Oettinger, Jussi Saros, you know, fi- five, Sorokin.
You know, most teams now are, are using tandems.
And, you know, Lindy Ruff said today he basically, like, you know, both goalies are playing well.
That's why it, it, you know, the starter for Buffalo in the playoffs is up in the air.
I think teams will be looking at Montembaults or Stolarzs and say, "Okay, that guy, we can get 30, 35 games out of that guy."
And you're just not gonna get a 60-game goalie out there in a trade or in free agency.
Those are the guys you have to develop.
