Sam Montembeault
Sam Montembeault has been the starting goalie for the Habs for the past two seasons. Some of that was due to Jake Allen’s injuries in 2021-22, and part of it was due to performance in 2022-23 where he earned the lion’s share of games in goal.
He has already earned one contract extension during his time with the Habs, when he signed a two-year deal with a $1 million cap hit that covered the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons. That means he is eligible for an extension at any time.
Montembeault is a 26 year old goaltender who could prove to be a steal if he is signed to an extension now. He had okay numbers last season when he put up a 3.42 goals against average and a .901 save percentage, but they were not putting him in the conversation for post-season awards.
Still, he was playing behind a very young defense on a team with low expectations that became an injury riddled roster for most of the season. It was a bit of a mess but he stood tall most nights, holding the team in games for a while, although there was the odd clunker that really brought his numbers down.
If he were to sign an extension right now, Montembeault could likely be locked in for two or three years at a cap hit of around $2 million per season. That could end up being an absolute steal if he continues to improve over the coming season. It also wouldn’t be that difficult to swallow if he struggles and never becomes a reliable starter.
If the team waits, and Montembeault plays great, he could become an unrestricted free agent next summer and leave for nothing in return, or demand a much higher salary on a longer term contract.