Samuel Montembeault has been the top dog, but is it to the detriment of Jakub Dobes' development?

Montreal Canadiens starting goaltender Samuel Montembeault’s ultimate foe has been squeaky goals - a sign of fatigue - as it appears down the stretch.

Montembeault has been great, even Jakub Dobes would tell you the same from the bench, where he has intently watched the majority of the Habs schedule pass by. Sure, he is pleased with the teams performance, but if the hockey down the stretch isn't worthy of him starting, is that a sign of something?

Why isn't Dobes getting thrown a bone here and there, instead of keeping him on the bench? I don't have the answer to it, and I have no authority to question coaching decisions. But, it is curious why his development is now less important than Cayden Primeau's.

Dobes deserves to play, and his great numbers in the AHL before being called up to the NHL should be forgotten. He was driving the Rocket through the schedule confidently and had the carpet pulled out from under him. It's a promotion no doubt but at this point, it's hard to look at it through rose coloured glasses.

And I don't see an end to this treatment on the horizon, with the Canadiens intent on securing a playoff berth as soon as possible. Laval wants to continue their dominant season and ride it into the AHL playoffs. Primeau isn't about to be recalled if they don't intend to start him in Montreal, and Laval has relied on his steady play.

The intent is for the cards to stack perfectly, and pulling out an important pillar (card) could potentially affect the integrity of the entire stack.

Don't fix what isn't broken, and Laval is in first place overall in the AHL standings, with Primeau dialled in, and on a tear. So, the odds are not in Dobes' favour, unless the Habs recall Connor Hughes, and assign Dobes to Laval. Even then, he is going to serve as Primeau's backup.

As early as next season something is going to have to chance, otherwise, the Habs could squander another important year in Dobes development. Two consecutive seasons with limited starts, for a 23-year-old goaltender isn't going to serve him well. I understand completely the importance of these games, but in the playoffs, those games will be gruelling.

I don't suggest resting Montembeault, but giving Dobes five or six starts over the final 13 games isn't a crazy decision. Is it?

Lack of starts is Dobes' problem for Habs

Just before anybody thinks that I am reporting on the same thing as Nate Duffett, my colleague and co-site expert at A Winning Habit, I am giving my opinion on the matter.

And ultimately what I think the issue is.

Anyway, apparently Dobes reputation across the league, in the opinion of Pierre McGuire is that he is known to let in a lot of goals in the top half of the net.

But if that is the case, then why wasn't this issue worked on, in a setting other than practice? It's unfair to glue the kid to the bench because he is struggling to stop pucks up high. Practice will undoubtedly help, but you don't grow much confidence in your game if you aren't getting starts.

Dobes has started 12 out of a possible 69 Canadiens starts this season. Yes, he did play 12 games with Laval, going 9-3-1. But that is nowhere near enough starts, and the balance is going to take its toll, it can't bleed into next season.

Montembeault has played 52 games in comparison. No. 35 boasts a 25-21-6 record over that stretch, along with four shutouts. The local, Montembeault has a 2.88 goals against average (GAA), and a .900 save percentage (SV%)

That is a lot of starts, and yes starters make more starts than that in some situations, but this one doesn't warrant that kind of treatment.