The Canadian could well and truly end the season without having resolved his menage a trois in front of the net.
The general manager of the Montreal club, Kent Hughes, admitted Monday morning that he would like to find a solution by the trade deadline on March 8. However, he set the table for a scenario according to which Samuel Montembeault, Jake Allen and Cayden Primeau will share the work until the end of the campaign.
“We decided to keep all three goalies and then evaluate if we can make a trade,” Hughes said during his mid-season review. The plan was not to have three goalies for the entire season. This is not our plan yet. But that doesn’t mean 100% that we’re going to make a trade. »
Allen had the task of facing the Colorado Avalanche on Monday night. He thus obtained a 15e departure this season. Primeau got nine starts.
Even though he is having a much better campaign than his two counterparts, Montembeault has only made 19 starts.
The 27-year-old Quebecer has been thrown into the fray a little more frequently since signing a three-year, $9.45 million contract extension early in December. And since December 31, inclusive, he has been the starting goalie in five of the Habs’ eight games, including Monday night against the Avalanche.
Although he doesn’t dictate the decisions of head coach Martin St-Louis and goaltending coach Eric Raymond, Hughes admitted he asked for his three goalies to play. We can therefore forget a situation where Montembeault and Primeau share the task while Allen chomps at the bit until the end of the season.
“I don’t like to give a title to anyone, because I want Sam to keep pushing every day to be the best he can be,” Hughes said. For now, Sam is playing with confidence and he is playing more than the others. »
“But we want all three to play until one gets traded.” They are all good goalkeepers and overall, I think the play of our goalkeepers was one of our strengths in the first half of the season. »
More injuries
Hughes pointed out that injuries have derailed some of the plans again, noting that the absences of Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook made it difficult for him to clearly assess where his team stands.
Before his game against the Avalanche, the Canadian posted a record of 17-18-7 for 41 points. At the same point last season, he had 37 points for a 17-22-3 record.
“We wanted to avoid another injury-plagued season, and then in the first period of our second game, we lost Dach for the season,” Hughes recalled. It complicates things and not only our chances of competing with the opponent every night. We also waste a year evaluating Dach and where his game is at. »
“In terms of our evaluation, due to injuries, we also have players who find themselves with more important roles, third line players who find themselves on the second line,” he added.
Hughes nevertheless spoke of a progression in his team’s play, particularly at five against five. However, he recognized that his players must continue to improve in their zone and on special teams.
He highlighted the progress of striker Juraj Slafkovsky and the arrival of defender Jayden Struble, who quickly established himself as a reliable element despite his little experience in the professional ranks.
Hughes also commented on the declining production of Cole Caufield, who had only 12 goals on the scoreboard after 42 games, after hitting the target 26 times in 46 outings last season.
“Its efficiency is 7%, compared to 16% last year. I looked the other day and among the players who have 11 or 12 goals, there were 110e for efficiency, Hughes said. It’s something the coaches will look at with him. Is it bad luck? Is it something in the way he shoots?”
“But I wouldn’t say it’s disappointing or worrying,” he insisted. You always want a marker to score. But apart from being a goalkeeper, the hardest thing to do from one year to the next or during the same season is probably scoring goals. »
Always the same vision
The names of Allen and forward Sean Monahan are among the first on the lists of players expected to move by the trade deadline.
Hughes said his counterparts are being patient for now, but added that if the right offer came tomorrow, he wouldn’t hesitate to move forward with a deal.
“We’re looking for players who can help us and yes, we’re looking to improve offensively,” Hughes admitted. We have accumulated 22 picks for the next two drafts. Do I expect us to use all 22? In an ideal world, no. »
He recalled having already taken advantage of his surplus of defensemen and picks by trading Alexander Romanov and picks to get Dach and Newhook in the last two drafts.
Hughes, however, said his plan is not changing. He is in no rush to make trades to fill short-term needs and every decision will continue to be made based on the team’s long-term future.