Samuel Montembeault faces pressure after Kent Hughes goalie move
Photo credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Hunter Shepard arrives in the Canadiens organization as Martin St. Louis manages his crease, and the move by Kent Hughes sends a message about Jacob Fowler's role.
Montreal acquired Shepard from the Ottawa Senators in a deal that sent Riley Kidney the other way, a transaction focused mostly on the Laval Rocket.
The 30-year-old goaltender is expected to report directly to Laval, giving the Rocket another veteran option in the American Hockey League crease.
Shepard appeared in 15 games with Belleville this season, posting a 6-7-2 record.
For Laval, the addition provides stability during the final stretch of the AHL schedule. The Rocket often deal with call-ups and injuries as Montreal adjusts its roster.
But inside the Canadiens' system, the bigger ripple may involve what happens in the NHL crease.
Pressure grows around Samuel Montembeault
The timing of the move is what raises eyebrows across the organization.
Jacob Fowler has already stepped into the NHL picture this season, appearing in 11 games with Montreal while posting a 2.56 goals-against average.
Those appearances suggest the Canadiens are comfortable giving the 21-year-old rookie real NHL minutes rather than sending him back to Laval.
If Fowler remains with the Canadiens down the stretch, it changes the equation for Samuel Montembeault.
Montembeault has carried a heavy workload for Montreal in recent seasons and played 62 games last year while posting a .902 save percentage.
Now the crease suddenly looks crowded, with Fowler pushing for ice time and Jakub Dobes also part of the organization's young goaltending pipeline.
That situation makes Shepard's arrival in Laval significant.
Instead of opening space for Fowler to take the Rocket crease, Montreal added another veteran AHL goaltender.
In other words, the organization may be preparing for Fowler to stay with the Canadiens longer than originally expected.
For Montembeault, that creates a new layer of pressure inside the Montreal crease.
A rookie goalie gaining trust from the coaching staff can quickly change the depth chart, especially late in the season when teams want to evaluate young talent.
The Shepard trade may look like a minor AHL move on the surface.
But around the Canadiens organization, it quietly hints that Jacob Fowler could remain in the NHL - and that's a development Samuel Montembeault can't ignore.
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| POLL | ||
MARS 13|63 ANSWERS Samuel Montembeault faces pressure after Kent Hughes goalie move Should the Canadiens keep Jacob Fowler in the NHL for the rest of the season ? | ||
| Yes | 56 | 88.9 % |
| No | 7 | 11.1 % |
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