Kent Hughes has just made an important statement regarding the Extension of Samuel Montembeault's contract with the Canadiens

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Elias Edmonson
September 11, 2023 (12:06)

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There is no doubt that the Montreal Canadiens' goaltender, Samuel Montembeault, has experienced a meteoric rise over the last season. Benefiting from a larger role within the organization, the Quebecer has shown that he could occupy the number one spot this year, possibly overtaking Jake Allen in the team's hierarchy.

The Bécancour native particularly mentioned this summer that he would very much like to sign a contract extension before the start of the season or even during the training camp. Beginning the last year of his agreement, a new deal would have certainly allowed him to start the season without having to worry about his contractual situation.

"I know that the Canadiens have many files to settle, so I do not expect to sign [this new contract] at the beginning of the summer. But if it can be done during training camp or early in the season, like Jake Allen last year, I would definitely like that. I would like to stay with the Canadiens." - Samuel Montembeault

However, much to the dismay of those who were hoping to see the 26-year-old goaltender sign a new agreement soon, patience will be required. Indeed, the Canadiens' general manager, Kent Hughes, made an important statement at his press conference on the sidelines of the Montreal Canadiens' golf tournament this morning. He admitted that contract negotiations with Samuel Montembeault would only begin during the regular season, or even at the end of the 2023-2024 year.

"We will determine the number of goaltenders, first. As for the start of negotiations, whether it's during or after the season, I will talk to Sam and his agent," said Hughes. "There are some who don't like it [negotiating during the schedule] and prefer to focus on their game. We are not worried." - Kent Hughes

However, Kent Hughes seems confident that a possible contract extension will be signed between the Quebec goaltender and the organization, virtually guaranteeing his return with the Montreal team next season. Certainly, it will be very interesting to assess his progression over the coming months, as he will attempt to take his game to another level in order to potentially become the goaltender of the future for the Bleu-Blanc-Rouge.

At 26 years old, Samuel Montembeault compiled a record of 16 wins, 19 losses, and 3 overtime losses last year, recording a goals against average of 3.42 and a save percentage of 0.901. Although these statistics are not among the NHL elite, it is important to consider the fact that the Canadiens' defense was among the worst in the NHL in 2022-2023.

In your opinion, does Samuel Montembeault deserve a contract extension approaching three million dollars per season?

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Do you believe that the Canadiens would benefit from offering a contract extension to Samuel Montembeault right now?
Yes	29	60.4 %
No	19	39.6 %
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