HABS Empire

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Samuel Montembeault's value to the Montreal Canadiens just got a blunt public assessment.

Pierre McGuire addressed the situation on the Sick Podcast, specifically what happens if Jacob Fowler sticks with the NHL roster.

"At one point, in order to send Montembeault down to the AHL, he has to go on waivers," McGuire said.

On this day in history: September 13

"I don't think that he would clear, and that would open up more cap room for Montreal," he added.

That's a real complication. Montreal can't simply option him to Laval the way it could with a younger, waiver-exempt goaltender.

McGuire didn't stop at roster mechanics. He went straight at Montembeault's actual trade value next.

"His value is truly the cap space," McGuire said. "The truth is he's not getting traded for a 1st-2nd round pick, he's not getting traded for an established player."

Samuel Montembeault trade rumors explode after Pierre McGuire's comments

"So where's his actual value? His value is cap space," McGuire said, closing the point bluntly.

That framing lines up with the numbers. Montembeault posted a .873 save percentage across 25 games last season, the softest mark among Montreal's three NHL goaltenders.

Jakub Dobes played more and finished at .901, while Fowler posted a .908 save percentage in his own limited appearances.

Montembeault still carries a $3,150,000 cap hit, the most expensive number in a crease that clearly no longer needs him at that price.

Is McGuire right that cap relief is genuinely the best outcome left here, or does a trade market still exist somewhere?

It's the workplace equivalent of keeping someone on payroll mainly because letting them go frees up more budget than replacing them would.

Edmonton has already been floated as a potential trade partner given its own ongoing goaltending search this offseason.

My take: when an insider says a player's only real value is the money he frees up, that's about as clear a signal as it gets that a trade needs to happen soon.

Camp is close, and Montreal's crease decision looks less like a choice at this point and more like a problem waiting on someone else to solve it.

Jacob Fowler and Jakub Dobeš 📸

"I see myself in a fourth-line winger role. I have a good shot, but I remain realistic. I know my projection as a player is that of a fourth-line or third-line winger. But I'm happy with that. It's a pleasant role. When I talk about pleasant things, I'm referring to beating my rivals, diving into the mix and fighting when necessary. [...] I want to continue my progression. I don't need to score a ton of goals. I don't need to change my style, but I need to improve in my strengths

-Tyler Thorpe, 6'5, 230 lbs, Habs prospect
(Source: Jean-François Chaumont)

"He played games. It hadn't happened to him in a while. And he did a great job. Enough to get a call-up and see what it's like to play in the NHL. I briefly crossed paths with him. He looks bigger, stronger. He's gained maturity. It's like Owen Beck, Adam Engström and the young Xhekaj. It will be exciting to see them perform at the main camp after seeing them grow. He's knocking on the door of the NHL. It will be interesting to see what the result of all the work he's done over the summer will be. I'm looking forward to seeing him fight for a spot. His game has evolved. He's learning the North American game and demonstrating the potential that the Canadiens organization saw in him."

-Daniel Jacob, new head coach of the Rocket de Laval, on David Reinbacher
(Source: TVA SPORTS)

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