Major Developments Emerging in an Imminent Goalie Trade in Montreal
Since the start of the season, the management of goaltenders has been a persistent issue for the Montreal Canadiens. Although many observers expected General Manager Kent Hughes to trade a goalie before the first game of the year, it's now December, and the team still has three goalies in its lineup.
However, according to reports from Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek in their "32 Thoughts" podcast this morning, a resolution may be imminent. The recent contract extension signed by Samuel Montembeault could trigger significant changes, potentially leading to a trade involving either Cayden Primeau or Jake Allen.
"First of all, congratulations to Samuel Montembeault on his three-year contract extension. He's a guy who's worked hard to get here, and it hasn't been a straight path. He improved a lot last year, and I think goalies take longer than some players to develop and reach their full potential.
I don't think they're going to rush, but now they know they have [Samuel Montembeault] and I think they're in the final phase of the three-goalie system. However, I'm not yet convinced of the identity of the goalie who will be traded." - Elliotte Friedman
With the assurance that Samuel Montembeault will return next year, potentially as the number one goalie in 2024-2025, Hughes can make an informed decision on which goaltender to trade.
Jake Allen, with his vast experience (405 games played, 2.73 goals against average, and .908 save percentage), is in his eleventh NHL season. Despite his consistency, his $3.85 million salary for the next season and his veteran status might make him an unlikely part of the team's future plans.
Cayden Primeau, on the other hand, is a 24-year-old American earning just $890,000 in 2024-2025. Although his performances have been inconsistent, Primeau continues to develop and could reach his full potential in the coming years, making him a quality backup option for Montembeault until a new goalie arrives.
The upcoming games for these two goalies will undoubtedly play a crucial role in Hughes' decision, and it will be interesting to see how they respond to this challenge.
| POLL |
4 DECEMBRE | 121 ANSWERS Major Developments Emerging in an Imminent Goalie Trade in Montreal Which goalie would you rather trade? |
| Jake Allen | 93 | 76.9 % |
| Cayden Primeau | 28 | 23.1 % |
| LIST OF POLLS |
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