Edmonton Oilers

Oilers and Jets Linked as Montembeault Trade Rumors Heat Up

Are the Jets and Oilers going to be looking for a goalie? Would Sam Montembeault be a solid option from the Canadiens?

by
NHL Trade Talk
August 30, 2026

The Montreal Canadiens’ goaltending got a little bit more interesting this week. Now that Connor Hellebuyck‘s trade request is public, and with the Edmonton Oilers releasing a statement that Frederik Andersen is sidelined after an offseason training injury, there might be interest in Sam Montembeault of the Montreal Canadiens.

In a perfect world, Montembeault bounces back with the Canadiens and Jacob Fowler has more time to develop in the AHL. At the same time, maybe the Canadiens are ready to move on. If so, the Jets and Oilers might have interest.

Marco D’Amico, speaking on The Starr & D’Amico Show, argued that trading Montembeault now, while he’s still in a contract year, is the right thing to do. It’s not only the fairest thing for the goaltender, but it could also benefit the Canadiens.

Moving him gives him a real shot at landing a new NHL deal for next season. He’s unlikely to get a good look (certainly not a long leash) with both Jakub Dobes and Fowler in front of him.

<a rel= — Sam Montembeault could be a trade option for the Canadiens

As for the Canadiens, there’s a potential market for Montembeault that wasn’t there just a few days ago.

If a Hellebuyck trade sets off a broader chain reaction across the goalie market, it points to Winnipeg as a logical landing spot for Montembeault. If the Oilers learn Andersen will miss more time than expected, they might not feel comfortable with Tristan Jarry and Devon Levi. The Oilers might not be in a panic, but if Hellebuyck goes, the Jets have to get a partner for Stuart Skinner.

Montreal Gazette columnist Stu Cowan believes the goalie market is heating up. He writes, “Asset management is one of Hughes’s biggest strengths and he won’t want to lose Montembeault for nothing with the goalie heading into the final year of his contract with a very reasonable US$3.15 million salary-cap hit.”

With Hellebuyck’s future unresolved and other clubs facing sudden depth issues in net, Montembeault’s name is likely to keep surfacing in trade conversations as training camps approach.

Next: Hellebuyck Trade Request Sparks Fiery Response From PTI Hosts