Montreal’s Goaltending Crossroads: Will the Habs Make a Move for Jesper Wallstedt?
The NHL trade deadline is creeping closer, and while this year’s goalie market isn’t exactly overflowing with options, it’s heating up fast-and one name is drawing more attention than most: Jesper Wallstedt.
The 23-year-old Swede, currently part of a strong tandem in Minnesota with Filip Gustavsson, has emerged as one of the most intriguing trade candidates on the board. The Wild have reportedly made him available, and teams across the league are circling. Nashville has been mentioned as a potential landing spot, and Montreal has been floated as a team that could be in the mix-though recent developments may complicate that picture.
A Shift Behind the Bench
On Wednesday, the Canadiens announced a significant change to their coaching staff, relieving goaltending coach Eric Raymond of his duties. Stepping into the role on an interim basis is Marco Marciano, who had been serving as the goalie/video coach for the Laval Rocket, Montreal’s AHL affiliate.
That move speaks volumes. Goaltending has been a sore spot for the Habs this season, and the front office clearly felt it was time to try something different behind the scenes. Now, the question becomes whether that change is enough-or if a shake-up in the crease is next.
Montembeault’s Inconsistency Adds to the Pressure
Samuel Montembeault has been the Canadiens’ go-to netminder in recent seasons, but the results have been uneven. Since arriving from Florida, he’s shown flashes of potential but struggled to maintain consistency. This season, those struggles have become harder to ignore.
Through 19 appearances, Montembeault holds a 9-8-2 record. But dig a little deeper and the cracks start to show.
His save percentage has dipped to .868, and he’s allowing nearly three and a half goals per game. He’s given up three or more goals in each of his last four starts-a troubling trend for a team fighting for playoff positioning.
Montembeault’s history hasn’t exactly inspired long-term confidence either. In seven NHL seasons, he’s managed to post a goals-against average below three just once. That’s not the kind of track record that screams “franchise cornerstone.”
Young Guns Trying to Make Their Case
Jakub Dobeš and Jacob Fowler represent the future in net for Montreal-but they’re still works in progress.
Dobeš, in his second season, has shown promise. His .890 save percentage isn’t stellar, but his 16-5-3 record and sub-three goals-against average suggest he’s at least giving the Habs a chance to win most nights. That said, his numbers are slightly down from last year, and he’s still trying to find consistency at the NHL level.
Then there’s Fowler, who’s split time between the NHL and AHL this season. He’s gone 4-4-2 in his first ten NHL starts with a .902 save percentage and a 2.62 GAA-solid numbers for a rookie. But his return to Laval came with some bumps, raising questions about how ready he is for a full-time NHL role.
Wallstedt: The Tempting Trade Target
That brings us back to Wallstedt. If Montreal decides to make a move, the young Swede could be exactly what they need.
At just 23, Wallstedt is already putting together an impressive campaign. In 22 appearances, he’s posted a 13-5-4 record, a .914 save percentage, and a 2.71 GAA.
Those numbers would be a clear upgrade over what Montreal’s current trio has produced this season. And with Wallstedt still early in his career, acquiring him would allow the Canadiens to get younger while potentially stabilizing their goaltending situation for years to come.
There’s also the reality that the free-agent market won’t offer much in the way of solutions. Sergei Bobrovsky and Stuart Skinner are expected to be available, but beyond them, options are limited-especially for a team looking to build for both now and the future.
Crunch Time for Kent Hughes and the Front Office
So where does this leave GM Kent Hughes?
Montembeault is eligible for an extension this offseason, and if he doesn’t sign one, he’ll hit the open market in 2027. Dobeš and Fowler are under team control for the foreseeable future, but neither has seized the net with authority. Kaapo Kähkönen, who’s not currently on the NHL roster, is also set to hit free agency this summer.
If Hughes wants to get proactive, Wallstedt offers a rare opportunity to add a young, NHL-ready goaltender who could anchor the crease for the next decade. Trading for him would likely mean moving on from Montembeault-and with his $3.15 million cap hit and uneven play, there could be a market for him among teams looking for veteran depth.
That said, there’s also a case to be made for patience. With Marciano now overseeing the goalie room, the Canadiens may want to give their current trio a chance to respond before making a major move. The March 6 trade deadline gives them a few weeks to evaluate.
The Playoff Picture Adds Urgency
Montreal isn’t just playing for the future-they’re in the thick of a playoff race. With Buffalo and Boston heating up and Florida pushing from behind, the Habs don’t have much margin for error. If they want to secure a wild card spot-or better-they’ll need reliable goaltending.
And if they make it to the postseason, they’ll likely be staring down the likes of Andrei Vasilevskiy, Jeremy Swayman, or John Gibson in a seven-game series. That’s a tall order for any netminding group, let alone one still trying to find its footing.
Final Thoughts
The Canadiens are at a pivotal moment. They’ve got a young, promising goaltending core-but one that’s still unproven. Jesper Wallstedt offers a chance to solidify that position with a player who’s already showing signs of being a difference-maker.
Whether Montreal chooses to stand pat or swing big will say a lot about how they view their timeline. Are they building toward something in a few years, or are they ready to start winning now?
Either way, the clock is ticking. And if the Habs want to make a serious playoff push-and eventually contend for more-they’ll need to get the goaltending piece right.