A Connor Hellebuyck trade could do more than just shake up Winnipeg’s crease - it might set off a chain reaction that reaches all the way to Montreal.
That’s the read from Marco D’Amico, who believes the Jets’ star goaltender situation could push multiple teams into action around the NHL. In his view, the Canadiens are not eager to open the season carrying three goaltenders under contract, and Samuel Montembeault is the name most likely to be at the center of the discussion.
Montembeault is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next July, which makes the idea of waiting increasingly awkward for Montreal. Kent Hughes is not expected to move him unless the return makes sense, but D’Amico said a trade still looks like the most logical outcome.
The fit in Winnipeg is obvious enough. If the Jets move on from Hellebuyck, they could look at Montembeault as a goaltender who has already shown he can handle a No. 1 role.
And if Winnipeg comes calling, the conversation may not stop there. A deal for Montembeault could open the door to a larger trade involving Gabriel Vilardi or Mark Scheifele.
D’Amico also drew a contrast with the Dylan Larkin situation, saying that one is more complicated because of his no-trade clause. Hellebuyck’s case, by comparison, looks far easier to sort out quickly.
And D’Amico does not expect the Jets to begin the season with Hellebuyck in goal after the public trade request.
The question now is whether that creates a path to Montreal - and whether Montembeault is still with the Canadiens when the season opens.
In Other News...
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Mooney is the one who already looks closest to forcing a decision, since his play at Minnesota has put him on the radar for a possible entry-level contract if he keeps trending up. Hages return gives Montreal another important look at a player whose development path has already been tested, while Runtso adds another fresh layer of intrigue once he settles in at Miami. The Canadiens do not need all of these prospects to hit at once, but they do need some of them to keep moving, and this fall should tell the team a lot about which ones are ready to push forward. [Read more 🡒]
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The bigger question around Dach remains the same one that followed him through the spring: whether the flashes he showed in the playoffs can carry into a full bounce-back season. Montreal has spent much of the summer talking about growth, health and internal improvement, and Dach sits right in the middle of that conversation as one of the players whose next step could shape the teams outlook. [Read more 🡒]
Reinbacher Is Forcing A Canadiens Decision They Cant Dodge
David Reinbacher heads into camp with something more than a normal young defenders audition in front of him. The Canadiens prospect wants to crack the NHL roster this season and avoid another trip to Laval, and Francis Bouillon of the teams player development staff said Reinbacher made clear strides in the second half of last season while showing the kind of motivation that gets attention in an organization still sorting out its blue line.
The timing matters because Montreal appears willing to give him a real look rather than simply stash him away for more AHL seasoning. Reinbacher is in the mix for a spot on defense, and the Canadiens management seems open to rewarding the push if he keeps forcing the issue in camp. For a young player trying to turn promise into a permanent place, this is the kind of decision window that can reshape a season before it even starts. [Read more 🡒]