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Sam Montembeault

Injury Notes: Kane, Montembeault, Bichsel

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Red Wings Head Coach Todd McLellan told reporters, including Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press that Patrick Kane will not be back until after Christmas, due to an upper body injury. Kane last played on December 13 against his former Blackhawks, managing to finish the contest despite injury, but has been absent for the team’s last four games since, in which they’ve managed to win three. 

Now 37, the future Hall of Famer has 23 points in 24 games, fifth on the team despite playing more than 10 less games, due to various injuries throughout the first half. John Leonard, a 27-year-old elite AHL scorer, earned a call up from his extraordinary numbers with the Grand Rapids Griffins. Leonard has filled in admirably for the icon Kane, as he has netted two goals in four games. 

Today’s update guarantees Kane will not play next Tuesday against Dallas, but he could be due to return on December 27 as the team goes into Carolina, currently on a surge, sitting atop the Atlantic Division. 

Elsewhere across the league:

  • Similar to Kane, Canadiens goalie Sam Montembeault will also return after the Christmas break, as shared by Eric Engels of Sportsnet. A steady presence over the last five years for the Habs as they entered their post-Carey Price era, Montembeault has struggled this season, with an .857 save percentage. The emergence of Jakub Dobes, along with high end prospect Jacob Fowler, who earned his first NHL action of late, has pushed Montembeault down slightly. The 29-year-old has made two appearances for AHL Laval on a conditioning loan, but will look to get back on track in 2026, as he is still signed through next season with Montreal.
  • Sam Nestler, Dallas Stars Beat Writer, shared that Lian Bichsel is still at least one week away from any rehab work. Stars Head Coach Glen Gulatzan anticipates the defenseman to be out until around Olympics time in February. Based on the timeline, Bischel will likely return post-Olympic break, assuming the team eases him back into action. In early December, Bichsel was designated as out for around six weeks, after an awkward leg injury sustained against Ottawa, which ended up requiring surgery. Like many other young blueliners, at 21, Bichsel is still working through the adjustment to the NHL game. Standing at 6’7”, he offers little offensively, but if able to progress in a sheltered third pairing role for now, the former first round pick could become a strong middle-pair shutdown option in the future.

Canadiens Notes: Anderson, Laine, Montembeault, Worlds, Savard

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As expected, several injuries for the Montreal Canadiens were revealed in today’s end-of-season presser. Forwards Josh Anderson and Patrik Laine, along with netminder Sam Montembeault, shared insights into their struggles with injuries during Montreal’s playoff run.

Vaguely, Anderson told Eric Engels of Sportsnet that he was dealing with lower- and upper-body injuries throughout the regular season, and that he likely wouldn’t have played if the Canadiens weren’t in a position to qualify for the postseason. Still, Anderson impressively tallied 15 goals on the year and played in the highest number of games since the 2018-19 season.

Meanwhile, Laine shared with Marco D’Amico of RG the specifics of the hand injury that kept him out of Games 3, 4, and 5. D’Amico quoted Laine saying, “I broke my finger in the second game. I couldn’t really hold my stick, and shooting is what I do. I was disappointed.”

Lastly, Engels reported that the Canadiens were without their starting netminder for the series’ last two games because of a torn groin. Thankfully, Montembeault won’t require surgery, meaning a full off-season with rehab should have him ready to start the 2025-26 season on time for Montreal.

Other Canadiens notes:

  • Now that their playoff run has concluded, the Canadiens will have at least one player participating in the 2025 IIHF World Championships and could have a few more. Montreal announced that defenseman Mike Matheson will suit up for Team Canada, while Engels reported Cole Caufield (Tweet Link) and Lane Hutson (Tweet Link) are undecided on playing for Team USA. Unfortunately, Team Slovakia will be without one of their top young players as Engels shared Juraj Slafkovsky won’t play in this summer’s international competition.
  • Now retired following the Canadiens’ elimination at the hands of the Capitals, David Savard would like to continue his work career with the Canadiens in a different capacity (Tweet Link). He didn’t allude to which path, as in coaching or a front office position, but he did say he would like to work with the team’s defensemen in some fashion.

Montreal Canadiens Sign Sam Montembeault To Three-Year Extension

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9:49 AM: This new extension does not include trade protection, per Sportsnet’s Eric Engels.

9:06 AM: The Montreal Canadiens have signed goaltender Sam Montembeault to a three-year extension. The new deal will carry an average salary of $3.15MM.

Montembeault has been in the midst of extension talks for much of the season, as Montreal has weighed the options of re-signing or trading the 27-year-old goaltender. There’s been no shortage of trade rumors surrounding the Montreal crease, as the team is currently carrying three goaltenders in Montembeault, Cayden Primeau, and Jake Allen. What’s more, they haven’t decided a starter between the trio yet – with Montembeault playing 10 games on the season, Allen playing in nine, and Primeau playing in five.

Montembeault has proven the most effective of the three options through the early season, recording a 5-3 record and .910 save percentage in his 10 outings. This continues his trend of improving performances with the Canadiens, after setting a .891 save percentage in 2021-22 and a .901 save percentage last year. Montreal acquired Montembeault off of waivers from the Florida Panthers ahead of the 2021-22 season and signed the netminder to a two-year, $2MM contract prior to the 2022-23 season. Montembeault has totaled 113 games through his five-year NHL career, setting a 38-48-13 record and .897 save percentage.

With Montembeault now extended, Montreal has all three of their goaltenders signed through next season. With stability in net, the team can turn their focus to their six pending free agents. This includes Sean Monahan and Tanner Pearson, the only pending-UFAs on the roster. The team is slated to have $2.42MM in cap space at the trade deadline and $8.1MM in space next summer, per CapFriendly.

Snapshots: Oilers, Nylander, Three Stars

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Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman spoke about the Edmonton Oilers goaltending situation on the most recent episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast, sharing that the team is in search for a new netminder with Jack Campbell struggling in the AHL. Specifically, Friedman reported that the Oilers recently got a good look at the three goalies with the Montreal Canadiens and could be interested in acquiring either Cayden Primeau or Sam Montembeault.

Montembeault has yet to sign his anticipated contract extension with the Canadiens, and Friedman adds that this extension could be a barrier for Montreal in any trade talks. The 27-year-old goaltender is in his third season with Montreal, joining the team via waivers ahead of the 2021-22 season. He’s performed well for the team since, recording a .908 save percentage through eight games this season and a .901 save percentage in 40 games last year. Edmonton is looking for a goaltender to support sophomore Stuart Skinner, rather than finding one to replace him, per Friedman. Montembeault could be a budget-friendly option if Montreal is willing to part with him.

Other notes from around the league:

  • The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun has shared that the Toronto Maple Leafs are being deliberately tight-lipped about star winger William Nylander’s looming contract extension, but that both sides remain committed to finding a deal before he hits free agency. One exec that LeBrun spoke with compared the negotiations to David Pastrnak’s extension negotiations, and another estimated that the winger could make $10.5 to $11 million on his next deal. Nylander recently forced his way into the spotlight again by scoring five points in Toronto’s pair of Global Series matchups.
  • The NHL has announced its Three Stars of the Week, with Sidney Crosby taking Third Star, Nylander winning Second Star, and Cale Makar being awarded First Star. Crosby won on the back of a five goal, seven point performance through four games this week; Nylander’s Global Series performance earned him a nomination despite playing just two games; and Makar amassed an impressive eight points in three games this week to top the list.

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