2 Trade Destinations For Canadiens' Sam Montembeault
Montembeault posted a career year in 2024-25 with a .902 save percentage across 60 starts, then collapsed to a .872 save percentage and 3.43 goals-against average in 25 games last season, his worst marks in four full years with the club.
Jakub Dobes has since taken the No. 1 job outright, signing a three-year extension worth $5.36 million annually, while prospect Jacob Fowler posted a strong .908 save percentage in his own 17-game NHL debut. Montembeault, 29, carries just one year left at a team-friendly $3.15 million cap hit and has no no-trade protection.
Here are two teams where he'd actually fit.
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins gave up Tristan Jarry to Edmonton in December, got Stuart Skinner back in that same deal, and then watched Skinner sign a two-year contract with the Winnipeg Jets on July 1.
That leaves Pittsburgh with Arturs Silovs, Sergei Murashov, and Joel Blomqvist as its entire goaltending group heading into camp, a trio The Hockey Writers flagged as one of the clearest reasons for pessimism about the Penguins' season.
Samuel Montembeault était présent à Brossard ce matin, mais il n’est resté que 10 à 15 minutes sur la glace avant de quitter l’entraînement. Il n’est pas revenu par la suite.
— Patrick Guillet (@PatGuillet) August 3, 2026
Est-il blessé? Est-il sur le point d’être échangé? 🤔🧐@DLCoulisses #GoHabsGo #Montembeault #NHL pic.twitter.com/lSeK3Uee59
"The Penguins' goalie situation has upside, but it is not safe," the outlet wrote, noting Silovs is signed for just one year and gives the front office a short window to see if he can handle a starter's workload.
Montembeault wouldn't need to beat out a proven veteran to get real minutes in Pittsburgh. He'd just need to be more consistent than a trio that finished 20th in the league in five-on-five save percentage last season.
New Jersey Devils
The Devils traded Jacob Markstrom, their starter for the past two seasons, to Florida on June 30 in the deal that brought back forwards Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist, and Ben Steeves.
That leaves Jake Allen, locked in at a bargain $1.8 million annually for four more years, as New Jersey's most established option in net, with no proven No. 1 currently on the roster to pair alongside him.
Samuel Montembeault est de retour sur la glace ce matin à Brossard, après avoir quitté l’entraînement seulement 15 minutes après le début lundi dernier, sans revenir par la suite.
— Patrick Guillet (@PatGuillet) August 6, 2026
À première vue, il ne semble ressentir aucun inconfort dans ses déplacements.
Jakub Dobes est… pic.twitter.com/Hs5hm52lVO
The Devils have $3.85 million in cap space, giving GM Fredrik Claesson some room to add a goaltender without needing to move anything out first.
The Hockey Writers noted the front office has already made goaltending changes a priority, firing goalie coach Dave Rogalski this offseason as part of a reset in the crease.
A cheap, one-year rebound candidate like Montembeault fits that timeline well, giving New Jersey a low-cost bet in a tandem with Allen while it figures out its longer-term answer in net.
