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In Hainsight: Montembeault Extended and the Wings Are in Town |
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Follow me @KarineHains for all updates about the Montreal Canadiens and women's hockey
Canadiens’ goaltender Samuel Montembeault was going to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and GM Kent Hughes had been trying to sign him to a contract extension for some time. The two camps reached an agreement yesterday and put pen to paper on a three-year deal worth $9.45 million. The pact has a very reasonable $3.15 million cap hit and might fix the question marks in net. The Habs have been carrying three goaltenders since the start of the year and something’s got to give.
This signing, the day after Cayden Primeau conceded five goals to the Panthers, might mean the Canadiens are ready to roll the dice on waiving the seventh-round draft pick. Why might? Well, Elliotte Friedman has reported on the Oilers’ interest in the Canadiens’ goaltenders. After scouting them all, they were most interested in Samuel Montembeault, but were concerned by his contractual status. In other words, Edmonton didn’t want a band-aid for a short time but a goaltender who would be around for a few years. Now signed to a three-year deal with a very reasonable ca hit, the Becancour native seems even more interesting for Edmonton now.
However, if the Canadiens trade Montembeault, they’ll be getting rid of their best goaltender and while some believe this would be the best course of action for the rebuild, that’s a short-sighted opinion. It’s one thing to chase a high draft pick, but it’s quite another to tell your locker room through your actions that you’re actively trying to make the team worse. Furthermore, the Canadiens’ young core needs to win at times to keep spirits up in the team. The Habs’ brass seems intent on building a winning culture in Montreal and it would be surprising to see them move Montembeault.
Tonight, the Red Wings are in town. Detroit has won six of the last 10 duels between the two sides. However, the Canadiens have won the only clash this season signing a 3-2 win in overtime, thanks to a Cole Caufield goal. Mike Matheson had a hand in every Habs’ goal on the night and will be hoping to do just as well tonight.
The Canadiens have yet to give an update on Alex Newhook’s injury, but they did call-up Mitchell Stephens from the Laval Rocket yesterday. The 26-year-old center has got 12 points in 16 games with the Rocket so far this season and will give the Canadiens option. If they dress him and slide him in at center, they could play Sean Monahan on Nick Suzuki’s wing alongside Cole Caufield, or he could also play the wing. Since Caufield and Slafkovsky have been playing on the same line for a while now, I wouldn’t mind seeing the pair flank the captain. Taking Monahan away from the center line would make the Canadiens much weaker down the middle. Mind you, Montreal could also just put Micheal Pezzetta back in the line-up…The Canadiens will be holding a morning skate at the Bell Center at 10:30 am, we should then get some idea of what Martin St-Louis intends to do.
If the Habs stick to the rotation system, Jake Allen should be in net tonight, and it would make sense since the veteran has the best numbers of the three goalies against the Wing. In 12 games, the netminder has a 1.99 GAA and a .933 save percentage. Captain Dylan Larkin, who has missed the Wings’ last two games grieving for what would have been his first child.
The game is scheduled for 7:00 PM and it will be interesting to see how the Canadiens bounce back from their 5-1 loss to the Panthers on Thursday.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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