Montreal Canadiens sign Sam Montembeault to two-year contract
The Montreal Canadiens have signed goaltender Sam Montembeault to two-year contract, the club announced Monday.
Montembeault, 25, posted an 8–18–6 record and an .891 save percentage in 38 appearances with the Canadiens in 2021–22. His new one-way deal carries a $1 million cap hit, according to TVA Sports’ Renaud Lavoie.
The Canadiens have agreed to terms with goaltender Samuel Montembeault on a two-year, one-way contract extension (2022-23 to 2023-24).#GoHabsGohttps://t.co/BWvQHUDocs
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) July 18, 2022The Florida Panthers originally selected Montembeault in the third round (No. 77 overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft. The 6’3″, 199-pound goaltender appeared in 25 games with the Panthers over the 2018–19 and 2019–20 seasons, going 9–8–3 with an .892 save percentage.
The Canadiens claimed Montembeault off waivers at the start of the 2021–22 season. The Bécancour, Quebec product was one of six goaltenders to play for the Canadiens last year, along with Jake Allen (35 games), Cayden Primeau (12 games), Carey Price (five games), Andrew Hammond (four games), and Michael McNiven (one game).
With Price’s future still uncertain as he continues treatment on his injured knee, Montembeault could reprise his role as a tandem goaltender with the Canadiens in 2022–23. Montembeault, Allen, and Price are signed for next season, while Primeau remains a restricted free agent.
The Canadiens now only have two restricted free agents to sign for next season: Primeau and Kirby Dach, who they acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks during the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft.