Montreal Canadiens: Keeping up with the Montoya watch
By Omar L
The Montreal Canadiens have a reason to pay attention to Edmonton Oilers game as the play of Al Montoya determines how high their pick is at the draft.
We can list all the negative things from last night’s game pretty easily. The Montreal Canadiens lost their 25th game in regulation. It was also the seventh time this season where the Habs were shutout, and by allowing two goals, their goal differential has fallen to fourth last in the league at -31. It could always get worse, here’s looking at you Arizona, but it’s still bad.
However, other things happened last night that can at least force the smallest of grins on a Habs fans face. Remember Al Montoya? The Habs chose to move the veteran goaltender after he was healthy enough to come off injured reserve. It was the right thing to do though considering how many quality starts Antti Niemi has given Montreal since being claimed off waivers.
The trade was for a conditional fourth-round pick which would only come the Habs’ way if Montoya plays at least seven games for the Oilers. Otherwise, the pick will be in the fifth round.
If we turn our Habs-styled binoculars over to Edmonton, it’s looking good for Montreal right now. With Cam Talbot out with the flu, Montoya got the start and the eventual win for the Oilers. The 32-year-old stopped 27 of 29 shots getting the win in overtime over the Colorado Avalanche.
That brings the magic number of games played to four for Montoya. All it takes is three more, and the Oiler’s fourth-round pick is going to get a touch of bleu, blanc, et rouge. Edmonton doesn’t play again until next Monday when they face Tampa Bay at home, so there’s time for Talbot to overcome his illness by then.
More from Editorials
- Montreal Canadiens: Senators Rebuild At Crisis Point As Kent Hughes Moves Forward
- Montreal Canadiens: Jonathan Drouin Continues Charity Work In Montreal After Leaving Habs
- Montreal Canadiens: Laval Rocket Lineup Going To Be Must Watch
- Montreal Canadiens: Jesse Ylönen Contract Extension Analysis
- Montreal Canadiens: Top 31 Prospects – #31 Quentin Miller
The Oilers do have two sets of back-to-backs this month which could bank another two games for Montoya but he could very well play more before that. Keep the fingers crossed, but it looks like that the pick is Montreal’s.
That’s the first step. The next is to put the year of scouting to action and take the best player available. Edmonton, like the Habs, are in a bottom ten situation which will put the pick near the top of the round.
The Habs have managed to strike gold in the fourth and fifth rounds before with Victor Mete, Brendan Gallagher, and Charles Hudon. If they play their cards right, there’s no reason why they can’t do it again.
Will the Oilers’ pick to the Habs become a fourth? What will they do with it? Let us know down below.