The Montreal Canadiens and goaltender Samuel Montembeault have started negotiations for a contract extension, it seems.
This was put forward by The Athletic website journalist Arpon Basu, who discussed the situation of masked men in the organization.
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The 27-year-old Quebecer could become an unrestricted free agent next summer. He is playing the final year of a two-year contract that allows him to earn $1 million per season.
It would be out of caution that the Habs are counting on three goalkeepers in their training since the start of hostilities in 2023-2024. Jake Allen and Montembeault have each played five games, while Cayden Primeau has only gotten one start so far. Many wonder why the organization is keeping the 24-year-old goaltender in the National League instead of giving him more action in the American League.
Still according to Basu, the CH fears losing the services of Primeau, who will have to go through waivers if he is demoted to the Laval Rocket. The Canadian would like to have an insurance policy in the event of an injury to Allen or Montembeault. The Bleu-Blanc-Rouge would also be thinking about the long term, if the Bécancour native does not remain with the team at the end of this campaign.
In his only start, Primeau allowed four goals on 33 shots in a 5–2 loss to the New Jersey Devils on October 24. It was the 22nd game for the seventh-round pick (199th overall) in the 2017 draft in the Bettman circuit.