Stu Cowan: Canadiens' Samuel Montembeault is nice as gold

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From waiver draft to world champion.

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Samuel Montembeault’s hockey profession has been a wild journey for the reason that Canadiens claimed him off waivers from the Florida Panthers on Oct. 2, 2021, lower than two weeks earlier than the beginning of the NHL common season.

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On Sunday, Montembeault made 21 saves as Canada beat Germany 5-2 within the gold-medal sport on the IIHF World Hockey Championship in Tampere, Finland. Montembeault performed seven video games within the event, ending with a 1.42 goals-against common and a .939 save share.

Canadiens defenceman Justin Barron was additionally a part of Group Canada, selecting up three assists within the 10 video games he performed to associate with a plus-2 differential.

Sammy Blais scored two objectives for Canada within the gold-medal sport, whereas Lawson Crouse, Tyler Toffoli and Scott Laughton (empty-netter) added singles. Canada gained a report twenty eighth gold medal on the world championship, another than Russia, whereas Germany took silver for its first medal since profitable silver in 1953.

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Latvia beat the USA 4-3 in extra time in Sunday’s bronze-medal sport for its first medal in any hockey world championship.

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Montembeault’s efficiency on the world championship needs to be an enormous confidence increase for the 26-year-old from Bécancour, Que., heading into the Canadiens’ coaching camp in September. The gold medal was a beautiful means for Montembeault to wrap up a season that noticed him play in a career-high 40 video games whereas posting a 16-19-3 report, a 3.42 goals-against common and a powerful .901 save share on a workforce that completed twenty eighth within the general NHL standings and ranked twenty ninth in defence.

It will have been tough for Montembeault to examine the present situation when the Canadiens claimed him off waivers: he had solely performed 25 profession NHL video games with the Panthers after being chosen within the third spherical (77th general) of the 2015 NHL Draft. Montembeault had a 9-8-3 report with the Panthers, together with a 3.20 GAA and a .892 save share.

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The Canadiens have been determined for a goaltender after they claimed Montembeault off waivers after studying Carey Worth would miss the beginning of the 2021-22 season whereas recovering from knee surgical procedure, and that Worth would even be headed into the NHL/NHLPA participant help program for what he later revealed have been issues with alcohol. Montembeault was introduced in to be a backup to veteran Jake Allen, who took over the No. 1 job from Worth.

Now, Montembeault has put himself in place to be the No. 1 goalie subsequent season and he might additionally develop into the Canadiens’ goalie of the long run, with Worth’s profession all however formally over due to a lingering knee downside. Montembeault must also be in for a considerable elevate as he heads into the ultimate season of a two-year, US$2-million contract with a $1-million salary-cap hit. He can develop into an unrestricted free agent after subsequent season.

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Allen has two seasons left on his contract with an annual salary-cap hit of US$3.85 million earlier than he can develop into an unrestricted free agent. At 32, Allen is just too previous to be thought-about the Canadiens’ goalie of the long run and he has additionally been damage susceptible the final two seasons, opening the door for Montembeault.

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Cayden Primeau is barely 23 and has performed nicely the final 4 seasons with the AHL’s Laval Rocket, however he has appeared overmatched when known as as much as the Canadiens. In 21 NHL video games, Primeau has a 3-12-2 report with a 4.11 GAA and a .871 save share.

Canadiens administration has some robust selections to make on the subject of their goaltending as this workforce rebuild strikes ahead. Primeau must be positioned on waivers earlier than being despatched again to Laval subsequent season, and there’s the potential of dropping him in that situation.

Will GM Kent Hughes look to commerce Allen throughout the low season and create a battle between Montembeault and Primeau subsequent season? Or has Hughes already seen sufficient from Primeau that he’d be keen to danger dropping him on waivers? There’s additionally the potential of the Canadiens choosing a prime goalie prospect at this yr’s NHL Draft.

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I’d lean towards conserving Montembeault and Allen subsequent season, let the goaltending scenario play out after which determine on the commerce deadline what strikes to make. Goaltending doesn’t should be Hughes’s precedence proper now.

Hughes made it clear final season that he wasn’t going to commerce Montembeault.

“He nonetheless has loads to expertise as a goalie, however we see the potential,” Hughes stated halfway by way of the season. “So Sam undoubtedly isn’t going anyplace.”

Montembeault confirmed that potential once more on the world championship. He additionally confirmed it when he performed eight straight video games this season after Allen was injured, posting a 4-4 report with a .930 save share.

One in all Montembeault’s greatest qualities is his capability to stay calm and funky, which actually helps if you’re enjoying goalie for the Canadiens.

Goaltenders are a distinct breed and usually take longer to develop than different gamers. Montembeault’s greatest years needs to be forward of him, however time will inform.

On Sunday, it was fairly cool to observe him lining up together with his teammates to sing O Canada with a gold medal round his neck.

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