Montembeault’s Regression Puts Trade Pressure on Management: 4 Options

The Montreal Canadiens entered the season believing they could manage their goaltending internally. That belief is now being tested. Sam Montembeault, once a steady and durable presence, has struggled to provide consistency, and the lack of timely saves has quietly become one of the team’s biggest issues.

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While Montreal’s defensive play has not helped its goaltenders, results still matter. The Canadiens are simply not getting enough from the position, and as losses mount, patience becomes harder to justify. Montembeault’s dip in performance has forced management to reassess how long they can afford to stay the course without external help.

Fowler’s Early Call-Up Signals Internal Concern

According to TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun, the organization’s long-term plan always included giving Jacob Fowler a taste of the NHL. What changed was the timing. Fowler’s call-up came earlier than expected, expedited by the Canadiens’ inability to get consistent saves from their regular NHL goalies.

The Canadiens aren’t seeing Fowler as some kind of quick fix or a superhero. He’s more like a short-term answer – a way to get some breathing room. They’re pretty sure Fowler can handle what’s thrown at him, given his past, but they also know things could get tough, especially with the team still trying to figure out its defense.

Why Upgrading Goaltending In-Season Is So Difficult

If Fowler has trouble or Montembeault can’t bounce back, Montreal might have to look into trades. But that’s not easy. Like LeBrun said, getting a top-notch goalie in the middle of the season is super tough in the NHL.

Teams don’t want to trade their good goalies during the year, especially if they have a contract or a no-trade clause. Prices go up fast, you don’t have much to bargain with, and any mistakes you make could haunt you for years. Montreal gets this, so they’d rather fix the problem with their own players before spending money and giving up assets on a trade.

Short-Term Stabilizers: Lyon and Talbot as Practical Options

If the Canadiens want someone reliable in goal rather than a potential star, Alex Lyon makes sense. He’s proven he can play a bunch of games in the NHL and wouldn’t be a risky pickup. No one expects him to be a franchise goalie, but he could play well while Montreal figures out what to do with Montembeault and Fowler.

Cam Talbot from Detroit is another good, experienced choice. He’s calm, handles pressure well, and you wouldn’t need to sign him for years. For a team still rebuilding, this kind of move is more about stopping things from getting worse than speeding up the process.

The High-Cost, High-Complexity Route: Binnington and Daccord

Getting Jordan Binnington would be a wild move, but it’s not easy. He has a 14-team no-trade list, so Montreal’s options are limited right away. Even though he’s won a Stanley Cup before, it’s not sure if he’d agree to play for a team that’s rebuilding. Plus, the Canadiens might not want to pay what it would cost to get him.

Joey Daccord is another interesting choice, but it’s also tough. He’s got years left on his contract with a cap hit of around $5 million, and a 12-team no-trade list. Getting him in the middle of the season would take a big trade. Deals like that usually don’t happen without planning in the offseason, so this is more of a what if than something that’s likely to happen.

What Happens Next for the Canadiens’ Crease

Right now, Montreal’s hoping things get better from within. They think Montembeault can get back on track, and Fowler helps in the meantime. But hope can only take you so far when wins and losses matter.

If their goalies don’t get it together, the Canadiens might need to look at trades, even if the choices aren’t great. It’s not about panicking, but about not getting stuck. Bad goaltending can ruin a season without anyone noticing, and Montreal’s almost at the point where doing nothing is the worst thing they can do.

Next: Canadiens Top Prospect Goalie to Make Debut vs Penguins