Canadiens: When Will the Habs Solve the Goalie Dilemma
By Ryan Praught
![MONTREAL, CANADA - APRIL 06: Cayden Primeau #30 and Sam Montembeault #35 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrate a victory against the Washington Capitals at Centre Bell on April 6, 2023 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Washington Capitals 6-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) MONTREAL, CANADA - APRIL 06: Cayden Primeau #30 and Sam Montembeault #35 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrate a victory against the Washington Capitals at Centre Bell on April 6, 2023 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Washington Capitals 6-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/2538f96a12990f3cc155a8d67d4bc59125931d79c54784114f30c4338332b7d5.jpg)
Samuel Montembeault has established himself as someone the Canadiens want to be a part of the organization long term. That’s why there were reported talks of a potential contract extension last off-season despite him being under contract for this year.
Those talks never progressed to the point where an extension was signed, but I’m sure the Canadiens will do their best to re-sign Montembeault at some point. But that’s obviously not a guarantee, and Arpon Basu of the Athletic has speculated as much.
Arpon Basu on how the Cayden Primeau & Sam Montembeault situations are intertwined.
— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) November 6, 2023
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It certainly contextualizes why the Canadiens don’t want to lose Primeau and why they’re in the predicament they are in. So maybe the solution isn’t to trade Montembeault, or any other goalie, but rather extend him. Once they have the assurance that he will be here next year and beyond, they can feel more comfortable taking the risk of waiving Primeau.
But will that happen anytime soon? It’s anyone’s guess. I think this is a frustrating scenario for everyone involved. Nobody wants to have to manage three goalies at a time, not the coaches, not management and certainly not the players. It’s pivotal that the Canadiens figure this out soon because this cannot continue forever, for everyone’s sake.
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