This morning at 9:30 a.m., the Montreal Canadiens are set to board a charter flight to Florida to start their customary Sunshine State trip. Their schedule kicks off with a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on December 28th. With 45 points, the Canadiens sit second in the Atlantic Division and fourth in the Eastern Conference, closely trailing the Carolina Hurricanes by just two points. The competition in the conference is tight, with only a five-point difference between the leader and the last wild-card spot held by the Florida Panthers, emphasizing the importance of every point earned, a fact acknowledged by Martin St. Louis.
Despite their promising position, the Canadiens must still decide on their goaltending strategy. Initially, they planned to give rookie Jacob Fowler some ice time this season, a decision made early on due to the goaltending struggles in the first half of the season. Before the Christmas break, former starting goalie Samuel Montembault was sent to the AHL’s Laval Rocket to refine his skills, working closely with goalie coach Marco Marciano. Although Montembault didn’t secure a win during his games there, he wasn’t blamed for the losses and has been focusing on fundamentals.
The Canadiens had considered recalling Montembault on December 21 but postponed the move due to scheduling and practice constraints, allowing him to continue his development with the Laval coaching staff. League rules permit a maximum 14-day conditioning stint in the AHL with the player’s consent, after which the parent team must bring the player back. It’s unlikely Montembault will want to extend this period, so unless the Canadiens let go of a goalie, they will travel with three goalies.
Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler are on waivers and could be sent down, though moving Dobes might not be wise. Fowler, in his rookie season, has made it hard to demote him, boasting three wins, one loss, and one tie with a 2.40 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage over five games. He also leads in expected goals saved per 60 minutes and ranks second in stopping high-danger shots among goalies with at least five games played. Recently, he helped shut out the Pittsburgh Penguins and contributed to a significant win against the Boston Bruins. Given his performance, it’s difficult for the Canadiens to justify sending him back.
With the playoff race intensifying, Montreal cannot afford errors. Sending a promising young player away now could send the wrong message. While the team wants Montembault to regain form, they cannot risk losing points. Montembault, despite his age, experience, and contract, remains the likely candidate to be sent to the AHL, but Fowler should stay until he shows a dip in form.
Professional sports are about results, and the Canadiens are beyond the rebuilding stage. To secure a postseason spot, they need points consistently, now and in the future. Fowler has made a strong case to remain on the roster, and from my perspective, he deserves that chance. Though there are financial and contractual considerations, deciding the team’s goaltending direction now can help build a winning culture.
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Fan Take: This update matters because it highlights how critical goaltending decisions can be in the middle of a tightly contested playoff race. How the Canadiens manage their young goalies like Jacob Fowler could influence not only their season outcomes but also set a tone for developing future talent in the NHL.
