The Montreal Canadiens thought their goaltending situation would be different from last season. For stretches of last season, the Canadiens carried three goalies on the roster, something the organization did not plan to do this season. Jakub Dobes came into the season as the starter. Samuel Montembeault won the backup job in preseason, giving the Canadiens the flexibility to start Jacob Fowler with the Laval Rocket. That plan got turned upside down before Montembeault could make his first start. The veteran goaltender went down with a lower-body injury, forcing Montreal to recall Fowler.
Since being recalled, Fowler has been spectacular. He has gone 5-1 in six starts, with a 1.79 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage. While Fowler has shined, Dobes has struggled. This season, he has a 1-2-2 record to go with his 4.47 goals-against average and a .847 save percentage. When Montembeault is ready to return, the Canadiens are going to have a decision to make, and that could mean moving on from the veteran goalie earlier than anticipated.
Montembeault earned his chance to bounce back
With Fowler's emergence last season and Dobes’ incredible playoff run, it felt like Montembeault’s time in Montreal was coming to an end. The Quebec-born netminder struggled last season, posting a 3.43 goals-against average and an .872 save percentage. Coming into this season, there was uncertainty around what the Canadiens goalie rotation would look like. Dobes was rewarded after his amazing play in the final stretch and playoffs, signing a three-year, $16.07 million contract extension. He came into the season as the team’s starter, but the backup role was up for grabs.
The biggest question was whether Montembeault would bounce back this season. In the preseason, he looked like the Montembeault of old. He performed the best of all the goalies on the Canadiens roster. In parts of three games, Montembeault had a 0.64 goals-against average and a .971 save percentage. His play won him the backup role, but being on an expiring contract, the Canadiens likely hoped he could raise his value before the trade deadline.
That plan never got going. Fowler was recalled and has made an immediate impact. With Dobes struggling, Fowler has been acting as the team’s starting goalie, making it all but impossible to send him back to Laval once Montembeault returns.
Fowler is NHL-ready
General manager Kent Hughes was asked before the season if the Canadiens would carry three goalies, and he responded: “Probably not.” Fowler starting in Laval showed that. It made a lot of sense. Fowler is still just 21, and the best thing for his development is playing regularly. In Laval, he gets that opportunity without having to worry about whether he would have to sit out between starts if he has a bad game. The theory makes sense, but that is not how this season has played out so far.
Fowler played two games for the Rocket and showed right away that the NHL is where he belongs. He went 1-1 in his starts but had a 1.53 goals-against average and a .945 save percentage. Fowler got his opportunity earlier than expected when Montembeault suffered an injury during practice, and it does not look like he will be returning to Laval anytime soon.
According to Money Puck, out of the 69 goalies who have appeared in at least one game this season, Fowler ranks 4th in goals saved above expected (GSAx) with 6.2. For comparison, Dobes ranks 67th with a -6.2 GSAx, showing that the Canadiens need Fowler more than ever. It is still early in the season, and there is plenty of time for Dobes to rediscover the form that helped the Canadiens make the Eastern Conference Final. However, as it stands, Montreal has to ride the hot hand in Fowler, which complicates Montembeault’s future with the team.
Montembeault's future in Montreal looks increasingly uncertain
With Fowler playing so well and Dobes locked up long-term, Montembeault is most likely the odd man out. Hughes made it clear during the preseason that the Canadiens ideally would not carry three goalies, but they are now facing that situation with Montembeault nearing a return. The Canadiens should not rush to trade him, but if an opportunity presents itself, they should be more willing than ever to move off of Montembeault.
The Canadiens may have missed an opportunity to trade Montembeault to the New York Rangers, who signed James Reimer to help ease Dylan Garand's workload with Igor Shesterkin out for the season. The biggest goalie domino dropped this week with three-time Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck being traded to the New Jersey Devils. With Hellebuyck out of the equation, the door could open for a Montembeault trade, as teams that missed out on the Vezina winner may still be looking for goaltending help.
Coming into the season, Montreal likely thought they had until the trade deadline to move Montembeault before potentially losing him for nothing in the offseason. That timeline has now changed, with Fowler giving the Canadiens the best chance to win games. Montreal has a decision to make in the near future, but as it stands, they cannot afford to send Fowler back to Laval.
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