Pierre McGuire drops a harsh Sam Montembeault reality for the Canadiens
Photo credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Pierre McGuire says Sam Montembeault likely won't clear waivers, making his biggest value to the Canadiens simple cap space, not a trade chip.
The Montreal Canadiens crease is getting crowded again, and it might force a decision nobody in the organization wants to make.
Pierre McGuire didn't hold back on the Sick Podcast when the topic turned to Sam Montembeault and what happens if Jacob Fowler locks down a full time NHL roster spot out of training camp.
Waivers loom if Fowler sticks
McGuire's argument is pretty simple.
If Fowler stays up with the big club, someone has to go down, and Montembeault is the logical name given where he sits in his contract.
The problem is getting him through waivers.
McGuire doesn't think a rival team would let a $3.15 million goaltender with NHL experience slide through to Laval without pouncing.
''At one point, in order to send Montembeault down to the AHL, he has to go on waivers. I don't think that he would clear, and that would open up more cap room for Montreal. [...] His value is truly the cap space. [...] The truth is he's not getting traded for a 1st-2nd round pick, he's not getting traded for an established player. [...] So where's his actual value? His value is cap space.''
- Pierre McGuire
- Pierre McGuire
That claim adds a wrinkle to how Montreal handles the crease this fall, since losing Montembeault for nothing would sting a roster that already leans on three legitimate options between Dobes, Fowler and Montembeault himself.
The trade market isn't calling
The tougher pill for Montembeault and his camp to swallow is the trade market reality McGuire laid out.
He was blunt that no team is offering a first or second round pick, and no team is sending back an established player either.
In his view, Montembeault's worth to another club is far simpler than name value or save percentage.
It comes down to the $3.15 million in relief a trade would create for Montreal's books, not whatever comes back in return.
That framing puts Kent Hughes in an interesting spot as the season nears.
Move Montembeault for pure cap relief, risk losing him on waivers for nothing, or ride out a three goalie mix that already caused headaches once this year.
None of those options are especially clean, and McGuire's comments suggest Montreal could be closer to a decision than fans realize.
Also read on House Of Hockey :
Ryan O'Reilly traded to Canadiens after Chris Kreider signing in blockbuster proposal
Ryan O'Reilly traded to Canadiens after Chris Kreider signing in blockbuster proposal