Hab’s Starter Faces Exhausting Schedule, Backup Uncertain

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As the Montreal Canadiens gear up for their return after a festive break, there’s a lot to unpack about their current goaltending conundrum. Set to head down to Florida this morning for an afternoon practice at the Panthers’ rink, the team faces some critical decisions with the NHL roster freeze poised to thaw at 12:01 AM tomorrow. So, while trades are on hold for now, the Canadiens can still make strategic recalls from their farm team—a move that seems increasingly vital given their netminding plight.

Now, don’t get it twisted: Samuel Montembeault has been holding his own between the pipes. Sure, he had some rocky starts early on, but his selection to Team Canada for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament seems to have been the spark he needed.

Montembeault’s been stellar, but there’s only so much wear and tear one goalie can endure without faltering. After starting 10 straight games, Montembeault’s feeling the grind—he mentioned his “pads were feeling a bit heavier tonight,” which is more a nod to fatigue than an excuse.

The crux of the issue is backup Cayden Primeau, who’s caught in a rough patch that’s impossible to ignore. The numbers speak for themselves; through 11 games this season, Primeau is shouldering a 4.70 goals-against average and a .836 save percentage, marking him rock bottom among goalies who’ve made more than one appearance.

His last start was a forgettable 6-3 loss to the Boston Bruins on December 1st. The Canadiens simply can’t keep leaning on Montembeault, who risks injury or declining performance due to overuse.

Coach Martin St-Louis’s reticence to publicly discuss his confidence in Primeau is telling. Actions, as they say, speak louder than words, and opting for Montembeault for 10 consecutive games says it all.

The team is about to face a back-to-back, and Montembeault should be suited up for only one of those outings. It’s not necessarily Primeau’s turn; it’s time for GM Kent Hughes to dial into the Laval Rocket and bring up either Jakub Dobes or Connor Hughes.

Both Dobes and Hughes have shown consistency with the Rocket, sharing near-identical stats through 14 games—Hughes with a 2.43 GAA and Dobes close behind at 2.44. Their save percentages are neck-and-neck as well, with Dobes at .910 and Hughes at .908. Either goalie deserves a call-up, at least temporarily, to alleviate Montembeault’s workload and give Primeau a chance to rediscover his confidence away from the bright lights.

Interestingly, the Habs roster spots currently sit at 22, one shy of the 23-player limit, meaning a straight recall without demoting Primeau is possible. However, the path to redemption for Primeau is paved with ice time, not bench-warming. His road back to form involves playing regularly, not opening the gate for substitutions.

In an ideal world, a post-freeze trade would bring in a veteran goalie to push Montembeault further, but Primeau’s trade value is questionable right now. There’s chatter about whether trading Jake Allen last season was wise, but hindsight is 20/20; based on the past circumstances, it made sound sense. Nonetheless, it’s unfortunate watching Primeau regress as he has.

Despite being waiver-eligible, the likelihood of another team claiming Primeau given his recent form seems slim. So, as the Rocket square off against the Syracuse Crunch in their own back-to-back, one of those promising young goalies should be ready to board the Canadiens’ plane. Who it’s going to be may not matter as much; what’s clear is that a change is essential.