Zachary Bolduc gave Canadiens fans a little breathing room this week.
While he and Samuel Montembeault were taking in the National Bank Open in Montreal, the 23-year-old forward used the moment to offer an update on his contract situation. Bolduc, who is still unsigned as a restricted free agent, said the sides are close enough that optimism is in order after a 30-point season.
“There are still a few details to work out over the next few weeks, but if everything goes according to plan, we should be teammates this year.”
That’s the key line, and it points to a future that appears headed in the right direction for Montreal. Bolduc is looking to build on his 30-point campaign and lock down a bigger role with the Canadiens, and his comments suggested the process is moving forward.
Montembeault’s case, though, is a different story.
The Quebec-born goaltender is still without a resolution, and despite the steady stream of trade chatter around him, he remains with the organization for now. He’s the $3.15 million veteran, and the logjam in net has only gotten tighter with Jakub Dobes arriving and Jacob Fowler emerging.
That leaves Montembeault in a strange spot. He could begin the season as the third goalie, but he’s handling it the right way and keeping his focus on the work in front of him. He has been training in Brossard as he tries to get his game back where he wants it.
For now, the Canadiens’ tennis outing produced two very different updates: one encouraging for Bolduc, and one still unsettled for Montembeault.
In Other News...
Canadiens Are Taking A Real Risk With Samuel Montembeault
Samuel Montembeault is still on the Canadiens roster in mid-August, and for now the front office seems content to let the situation play out. Kent Hughes does not appear interested in moving the goaltender when the return would be light, which leaves Montreal in a familiar holding pattern: waiting to see whether a patient approach can turn a limited market into a better one later on.
For the Canadiens, the gamble is obvious. Keeping Montembeault gives them a chance to see if his value rises over the course of the season, but it also means carrying a goalie whose performance has already raised questions about whether he can take a meaningful step forward. If he does not, Montreal could end up spending another year searching for answers while the trade value Hughes is protecting never really materializes. [Read more 🡒]
Scott Gomez Still Hasn't Let Go Of A Painful Canadiens Era
Scott Gomezs time in Montreal still hangs over him in a way that clearly goes beyond the box score. The former first-round pick arrived with expectations and, after a strong first season, his production tailed off during a stretch that included a long scoring drought and growing frustration from both the fan base and the local media, especially after the trade that sent Ryan McDonagh to the Canadiens.
What stands out now is how completely Gomez has stepped away from anything tied to that chapter. He has reportedly kept his distance from Montreal-related conversations and has avoided interviews connected to the team, a sign that the experience left a deeper mark than many old hockey stories do. For Canadiens fans, it is another reminder of how quickly a promising start can turn into a painful legacy. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Linked To Another Winger Ottawa May Not Want To Lose
The Canadiens offseason shopping list may not be finished yet, and one name worth watching is Drake Batherson. Montreal is reportedly interested in the Ottawa winger if the Senators are unable to lock him up to a new contract, which would put a productive division rival squarely on the radar for a team still looking to add more punch on the wing.
Bathersons situation has the potential to shape more than one front offices plans, because Ottawa would prefer not to let a player of that caliber drift into the market. If the Senators cannot bridge the gap, Montreal could be positioned to jump in, but the real intrigue is what kind of contract talks are going on behind the scenes and whether Ottawa can keep the door from opening at all. [Read more 🡒]