Another goalie added to growing list of netminders available before NHL free agency

Per Frank Seravalli, Jordan Binnington, Adin Hill, Devon Levi, Sam Montembeault, and Jacob Markstrom could be moved before July 1.

That list sounds like good news for goalie-starved teams. For Kent Hughes, it is - and that is precisely the problem.

When five goalies flood the market simultaneously, acquiring teams negotiate down, not up.

Montembeault arrives at a disadvantage before a single call gets made.

His 2025-26 season - 25 games, a 3.43 goals-against average, an .872 save percentage - is the first thing opposing GMs will cite.

His $3.15 million cap hit, with one year remaining, is the one card Montreal holds.

Binnington carries a Stanley Cup ring. Markstrom carries name value, even with a 20-team no-trade list narrowing his destinations.

The teams willing to pay a premium for the top names in this market will not circle back to Montembeault as their fallback.

The crease in Montreal is no longer a complicated picture. Jakub Dobes played 43 games in 2025-26 and posted a 2.78 goals-against average with a .901 save percentage.

Jacob Fowler went 9-6-2 in 17 appearances.

The Montreal Canadiens' rebuild has already moved past its veteran starter. The decision is made internally - the question is whether Montreal can still get fair value.

The Edmonton Oilers remain the most frequently linked destination. Tristan Jarry is the only NHL-caliber goalie under contract there heading into next season, and Montembeault's one-year deal fills that hole without damaging their cap.

The expected return - a third or fourth-round pick - already prices in his difficult season. Kent Hughes cannot let that number slide further.

Every goalie trade completed before July 1 removes a buyer. That clock is running now.

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