Sam Montembeault
The Montreal Canadiens brought in Sam Montembeault as emergency insurance when Carey Price's 2021-22 season was supposed to be slightly delayed. They must have had some internal conversations about whether or not it was even necessary to claim Montembeault off waivers since Price was only supposed to miss a few weeks and Cayden Primeau could have backed up Jake Allen to begin that season.
Also, Montembeault had a .892 save percentage in 25 career games at that point and he was already 25 years old. The previous season, his save percetange in the AHL was just .898 so it is not like he was guaranteed to be plucked off waivers at all.
However, he has been quite good for the Canadiens, especially this season and last year. His counting numbers are still not outstanding as he has a 3.10 GAA and a .905 SV% but some advanced metrics show he is playing excellent hockey. Standing in the crease behind a bottom ten team with an incredibly young defense has led to some tough nights, but mostly solid performances from Montembeault.
According to goals saved above expected, which essentially measures the quality of shots a goaltender has faced, Montembeault is among the best in the league at stopping pucks that the average goalie lets in.
Goals Saved Above Expected Leaders - January 27 pic.twitter.com/xKMxRNxv61
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) January 27, 2024
He is not right at the top, but also plays a lot less than the goalies in front of him on this list as he battles a three goalie situation with the Canadiens.
You know who is nowhere near this list? All-Star goaltender Alexandar Georgiev who plays behind one of the best teams in the league and certainly the best defense in the NHL but still has a .898 SV%. He was voted in which just shows how ridiculous the system for selecting All-Star rosters really is.