Alex Newhook joins Canadiens’ prolonged injured listing earlier than Saturday evening’s residence contest in opposition to the Detroit Purple Wings.
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There most likely isn’t any decrease second for a professional athlete than being positioned on waivers and having to ponder his future.
Samuel Montembeault is aware of the sensation all too properly, having lived by means of the expertise earlier than the beginning of the 2021-22 season. However former Canadiens common supervisor Marc Bergevin, in considered one of his most prescient strikes, claimed the goaltender from Florida after Carey Worth sustained a knee damage.
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After being sluggish to develop, the 6-foot-3, 222-pound Montembeault could be the franchise’s future between the pipes. On Friday, he was rewarded with a three-year, US$9.45-million contract. Montembeault was within the ultimate season of a two-year, US$1-million deal.
“It means loads,” Montembeault stated Saturday, following the staff’s morning skate on the Bell Centre. “The development I’ve had since I’ve been right here. Going by means of waivers I knew at the moment there wasn’t a spot for me on the roster in Florida. I used to be fortunate sufficient to finish up right here in Montreal.”
Whereas Montreal isn’t at all times the best vacation spot for a francophone participant, the unflappable Montembeault, a Becancour native, handles the stress with unbridled aplomb.
“Simply as a participant we put sufficient stress on ourselves to carry out each evening,” he stated. “We don’t add stress on ourselves. We simply need to be one of the best for the staff each evening.”
Montembeault’s contract however, the information wasn’t all rosy for the Canadiens as they ready for Saturday evening’s residence contest in opposition to the Detroit Purple Wings.
The group introduced Saturday morning ahead Alex Newhook turns into the staff’s newest casualty. Newhook is anticipated to overlook between 10 and 12 weeks with a excessive ankle sprain sustained Thursday in opposition to the Panthers. Newhook, with seven targets and 13 factors in 23 video games, crashed awkwardly into the web early within the third interval.
Street to the Cup
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Newhook, acquired from Colorado in late June, had most lately been enjoying on the staff’s prime line with captain Nick Suzuki and Brendan Gallagher. Three of Newhook’s seven targets had are available his final 5 video games. When the Canadiens recalled centre Mitch Stephens from Laval on Friday, it was a transparent indicator Newhook’s damage was long-term.
Stephens, a former second-round (thirty third) total draft alternative of Tampa Bay in 2015, had three targets and 12 factors for the Rocket in 16 video games this season. Stephens, 26, final performed within the NHL with Detroit in 2021-22 and was anticipated to make his Canadiens’ debut in opposition to the Purple Wings on a line with Joel Armia and Jesse Ylönen.
If Montembeault’s new contract serves as a vote of confidence transferring ahead, it doesn’t make the staff’s goaltending image any much less muddled.
Montreal is carrying three goalies — one too many. Jake Allen begins in opposition to Detroit, whereas Cayden Primeau is recovering after being overwhelmed 5 occasions, all to his glove facet, by Florida. 4 of the Panthers’ targets got here within the third interval on solely 11 photographs. Primeau, 24, must be uncovered to waivers earlier than being assigned to Laval.
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“We’re not seeking to disclose to 31 different groups within the league what our plans are,” common supervisor Kent Hughes stated Saturday morning. “Sam Montembeault simply signed a three-year deal for nine-and-a-half million {dollars} off a three-goalie rotation. It doesn’t appear to have affected him.
“Having stated that, do we would like a three-goalie rotation? Did we enter the season considering we have been going to do that for a full season? No. We did have some realities which might be staring us within the face. If we didn’t signal Sam he might stroll as a free agent on the finish of the 12 months. We wish our goalies in Laval to play in Laval; they’re not prepared for NHL competitors. Now clearly the stress received turned up on me to resolve this equation. Frankly, as much as this cut-off date, I don’t suppose goaltending has been an issue for us.”
Of Montreal’s three netminders, Montembeault, 27, has been probably the most constant. He has a 5-3-1 document, 2.73 common and .910 save share. It is also argued he stays a discount, given his US$3.15-million cap hit at the moment will rank thirtieth amongst goalies subsequent season.
Does that make him the goalie of the long run because the staff hopefully evolves right into a contender? Time will inform.
“The development I’ve had actually helped me,” stated Montembeault, who captured a gold medal for Staff Canada finally spring’s World Championship. “Beginning final 12 months, I grew to become extra constant. That’s one thing I must hold doing transferring ahead. Any time you give me the decision I have to be prepared and provides the staff an opportunity to win.”
Whereas Montembeault stays standard along with his teammates, head coach Martin St. Louis is extra involved by his constant performances.
“His play. It begins there,” St. Louis stated. “You generally is a nice locker-room man however, for those who can’t carry out, it doesn’t matter. To me it begins there. We’re very blissful for him.”
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