HABS carrying 3 Goal Tenders
Written by Fred Arshoff
Edited by Judy Pitcher
Photo Merge by Marlene Wall
First of all I’d like to thank two ladies for all their help with this and previous articles. I’ll start with my editor Judy Pitcher, her excellent editing and fixing errors if something happens between the time I wrote the article and it being ready to publish. I’d also like to thank Marlene Wall for her always excellent photo merges whenever needed. A tip of my hat to both Judy and Marlene, without your help these articles wouldn’t be as good as they are.
I wrote this article as Thomas Ouiment on Facebook) were asking about the HABS carrying 3 goal tenders on their roster. I’ll answer in the form of an article, so everyone knows my thoughts on the subject. As I always do.
Before going into detail about the HABS carrying 3 goal tenders, I’ll mention that on January 10, 2024 the HABS lost defenseman Gustav Lindstrom off waivers to the Anaheim Ducks. For more information on that, please see my article at: https://montrealsportsblog.wordpress.com/2024/01/10/gustav-lindstrom-placed-on-waivers-january-9-2024/
Like everything in life there are pros and cons and I will explain what they are for GM Kent Hughes and Head Coach Marti St Louis,
HABS GM Kent Hughes has said he would like to trade a goalie by the trade deadline on March 8, 2024.However, he has a certain return he wants and as we’ve seen if he doesn’t get what he feels is the right return, he doesn’t make the trade. I understand his point of view, in that you don’t trade a player you feel is worth X but the other team only offers you Y, just for the sake of making a trade. He has also said he would like to have the issue resolved before next season. So far he has been a man of his word, so let’s give him a chance.
PROS for GM Kent Hughes
With the HABS having a surplus of goal tenders, as we currently do, means other teams who may not have enough in their system due to injury or the fact they may want to leave a young prospect in their AHL affiliate to continue his development, rather than rush him into the NHL. So if a team calls GM Hughes wanting to make a trade, knowing he has a surplus, can ask for a premium You have what another team wants why not take advantage of the situation. By having 3 goalies on the HABS roster, gives them the time to develop our future young goalies in Laval and Trois Rivieres. Remember we have two other young goalie prospects who will come up in the next year or two. We have Jacob Fowler who is in the NCAA at Boston College, he played for Team USA in the WJC, winning a Gold Medal. There is also Quentin Miller who is currently playing in the QMJHL for the Rimouski Oceanic (once Sidney Crosby’s team), he also won the Patrick Roy Trophy in the 2022-23 season while playing for the Quebec Remparts which also won the Memorial Cup. The Patrick Roy Trophy is awarded to the best Goaltender in the QMJHL. Last but not least, by having 3 goalies on the roster means not having to call up a goalie from Laval should one of our goalies get injured/sick and having to make a roster spot available.
CONS for GM Kent Hughes
When you carry 3 goalies, you are limited to only having two other positional players available. We saw when Raphael Harvey-Pinard returned off IR, the HABS had to clear a roster spot. Unfortunately they ended up having to put defenseman Gustav Lindstrom on waivers and he was claimed by the Anaheim Ducks. Thus we lost an asset and got nothing in return. You end up using more salary cap space on goal tenders than would normally be used.
PROS for Head Coach Martin St Louis
Having 3 goal tenders, St Louis can do what he has been doing when the team has back-to-back games where travel maybe involved. He has been sending the starting goalie for the second game to the next city, so they can get a good night’s rest. When on the road the team might not get into their hotel until the early hours of the morning on game day. Having 3 goalies is also creating competition among them to see who will play So far it appears that Sam Montembeault is becoming the number 1 starter. Also, if a goalie needs extra individual work with Goalie Coach Eric Raymond, St Louis still has 2 goalies available at team practice.
CONS for Head Coach Martin St Louis
Having 3 goalies it is difficult to keep them all sharp and game ready, as they need to play meaningful games. So far Montembeault has been getting the majority of starts,meaning Allen and Primeau won’t be as sharp, since practice is not the same as game play.
You should also establish a #1 Goalie and have him play the majority of the team’s games.
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