Ice hockey is an exciting game and is popular among folks worldwide. However, the game is very demanding. It requires brain and brawn to be an effective player. The Montreal Canadiens have had a shaky season so far. They currently sit 8th in the Atlantic division with only 66 points.
The recent off-season overhaul has given the Canadiens several options to choose from in the goaltending position. So will Samuel Montembeault take on the role of the starting goaltender from the veteran Jake Allen, or will the newly signed Jakub Dobes emerge as the future star of the team? Let’s take a closer look and find out.
Samuel Montembeault
Samuel Montembeault has emerged as a great prospect for the team in the goaltending position. His recent performances have seen him rank 12th in goals saved in the NHL league. He is a clutch goaltender who has carried the game for the Canadiens multiple times and is probably responsible for them not having fewer points in the NHL standings.
Montembeault has been given more opportunities this season with more game time. He hasn’t disappointed and has shown the management that he can take on more significant roles moving forward. His impressive stats in recent games has made him the favorite goaltender to wager for on several sports betting in Canada sites. Most of these betting platforms also have several types of bets with varying degrees of payout that are popular among Canadians. Some of these include parlay, in-play, point spread, and the famous straight bets. Additionally, they have several bonuses and promotions, such as free and risk-free bets that can give you an edge when wagering for the Canadiens and all your favorite teams.
Jakub Dobes
Jakub Dobes is a young prospect that everyone is looking forward to seeing develop into a world-class goaltender. At the age of 21, it is speculated that he will be in the starting lineup next season. He has been a standout player for Ohio State Buckeyes in the last two years in the NCAA Division I, where he won multiple awards, including All-Big Ten Freshman Team and Big Ten Goaltender of the Year.
Given his impressive performance, Dobes is highly regarded as the future of the Montreal Canadiens. He was signed from the NCAA with two years of eligibility remaining. There is a strong desire to groom him into an exceptional goaltender. It is possible that management will call him up and pair him with a more experienced goaltender to see how he performs in the next season.
Jake Allen
If the management decides to proceed with Montembeault and Dobes, that leaves Allen hanging. However, the veteran goaltender is still in great form and could provide an excellent option for any NHL club that is in need of a skilled goaltender. His contract still runs for the next two seasons, though. Despite this, cashing out on him early would be the right move for management to prevent losing him for a lower price later on.
Moving Allen will give the Montreal Canadiens a chance to focus on molding their team for the next generation of players. The 2023 – 2024 season will have them testing out the possible duo of Montembeault and Dobes. This strategic move could be crucial in determining how the Canadiens perform in the next season.
In Summation
Kent Hughes has quite a dilemma restructuring the goaltending position. All weight is on his shoulder to come up with a solution that will provide the best results for the team. He has both youth and experience in his midst. What will he go for? Time will tell as the season progresses.