Samuel Montembeault’s future in Montreal still isn’t settled, but a fresh injury out of Columbus has suddenly made the goaltending market a lot more interesting.
The Blue Jackets announced that Elvis Merzlikins had shoulder surgery, a development that puts his start to the season in serious doubt. Columbus said, “Goaltender Elvis Merzlikins underwent successful shoulder surgery on Monday. No timetable has been set for his return at this time.”
Merzlikins had been Columbus’ No. 2 behind starter Jet Greaves, and the next option on the depth chart is Pheonix Copley, who was signed to play in the American Hockey League and doesn’t look like a real long-term answer in that spot.
That’s why Montembeault’s name belongs in the conversation. He still hasn’t been traded, even with months of speculation swirling around his future in Montreal, and the clock is ticking if the Canadiens want to move him.
The 2025-2026 season has been a rough one for Montembeault, but he has also put together some strong years and played a key role in helping the Canadiens reach the playoffs in 2024-2025.
There’s also already a line of communication between the two teams. Don Waddell and Kent Hughes handled the Patrik Laine trade and the Luke Tuch trade, and they reportedly spoke recently about Kirill Marchenko.
For now, the Merzlikins injury at least opens the door a little wider. Whether Montembeault gets that opportunity in Montreal or somewhere else, the hope is that he gets a chance to reestablish himself in the NHL.
In Other News...
Arber Xhekaj Just Put One Canadiens Decision Under The Microscope
Arber Xhekajs place in the Canadiens lineup has become one of those quiet roster questions that can carry real salary-cap weight. An analyst recently argued that Montreal should think of him as a sixth or seventh defenseman, a player whose appeal comes from his physical edge and willingness to make life uncomfortable for opponents, but not one whose role automatically warrants a major raise.
The debate gets sharper because Xhekajs contract situation is still unresolved, and his usage is part of the conversation. If he remains in that limited role, the market for him may not climb as high as some would expect, which puts Montreal in an interesting spot as it weighs toughness, ice time and future value on the blue line. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens May Need To Sacrifice A Top Prospect For Bigger Upgrade
With the Canadiens looking to reshape the roster around more immediate help, reports have them exploring trade discussions that could eventually lead to a significant prospect piece changing hands. Montreal already has multiple defensemen under contract, which gives the front office some flexibility if it wants to turn a young blue-liner into a more established NHL contributor and address a couple of longer-term needs at once.
Adam Engstrom is one of the names believed to have real value in those talks, and that alone says plenty about how the market views him. The bigger question for Montreal is how far it is willing to go in pursuit of an impact forward and a proven right-shot defenseman, with the kind of upgrade it wants likely requiring a notable sacrifice before anything actually gets over the line. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens May Finally Have A Real Montembeault Trade Opening
The goalie market in Columbus just got a lot more interesting, and Montreal has to be paying attention. With Elvis Merzlikins sidelined after shoulder surgery, the Blue Jackets are suddenly looking at a situation where Jet Greaves is carrying the load and Pheonix Copley is at least part of the conversation if more help is needed. For a Canadiens front office that has long had to weigh what to do with Samuel Montembeault, that kind of opening is the sort of development that can change the temperature around a potential deal.
Montembeault is also in the final year of his contract, which adds to the intrigue around his future. After a rough statistical season, he still profiles as the type of goalie a team in Columbus's position could examine if it wants stability or insurance, and Montreal would have to at least consider whether this is the right moment to explore value. No trade has been confirmed, but the fit is obvious enough that this is now one of those situations worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]