While the Canadiens don’t have long-time franchise netminder Carey Price available to them as he’ll remain on LTIR for the upcoming season (or the next two) and they have been searching for a replacement in recent years. While they haven’t found their next true starter, they have amassed some extra depth at the position with four netminders vying for two spots in training camp next month.
The tandem from the past two seasons remains in place with veteran Jake Allen being joined by Samuel Montembeault who is coming off his best NHL campaign. Casey DeSmith is now in the mix as well after being brought in as part of the Erik Karlsson trade over the weekend while prospect Cayden Primeau, viewed not long ago as a possible part of Montreal’s future goalie plans, now needs waivers to get back to AHL Laval.
While it’s possible that they could carry three netminders to start next season (though hardly an ideal scenario), four certainly isn’t happening. Assuming Montembeault and Allen remain the tandem, there’s no guarantee that DeSmith and/or Primeau would make it through waivers unclaimed and as a result, it wouldn’t be surprising to see GM Kent Hughes call around to see if there’s a possible trade to be made for one of his extra goaltenders. There are a few teams where it appears a swap for another netminder could be palatable.
Buffalo: At the moment, it looks like the Sabres intend to run with a young tandem of Devon Levi and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen with Eric Comrie likely bound for waivers. If they feel that DeSmith is enough of an upgrade on Comrie to serve as a short-term NHL option, they could then let Levi get some time in with AHL Rochester.
Chicago: Arvid Soderblom appears to be the current backup option but only has 71 AHL appearances under his belt and is waiver-exempt. They’re more of a training camp possibility if Soderblom struggles in the preseason but DeSmith as a short-term rental or Primeau as a longer-term swing both could fit.
New Jersey: Akira Schmid took over the number one job down the stretch and into the playoffs but is still relatively inexperienced and is waiver-exempt. Meanwhile, the team hasn’t ruled out the idea of bringing in another goaltender. Primeau doesn’t make much sense here but DeSmith, a player who is capable of making 30-plus appearances, might appeal to them more than current options on the open market.
Tampa Bay: Somewhat surprisingly, the Lightning added Jonas Johansson at the beginning of free agency, giving him a two-year deal at the league minimum. But he has struggled in very limited NHL duty and could certainly be upgraded on. DeSmith would definitely be an upgrade but would require Montreal to do the maximum 50% retention on his $1.8MM AAV or they’d need to send matching money back.
Vancouver: Spencer Martin was the backup goaltender for the opening part of last season but struggled mightily. He currently stands as the likely second-stringer once again which is risky as the Canucks look to get back to the playoffs. Cap space is an issue here (especially if Tanner Pearson is indeed able to return after finishing last season on LTIR) but someone like DeSmith would certainly be an upgrade.
On top of those teams, there could also be ones that have injuries in training camp that could force their hand closer to the start of the regular season if Montreal’s logjam still exists.
In the free agent market, the best remaining options available are veterans Martin Jones, Jaroslav Halak, and Brian Elliott. If none of those goalies appeal to one of these teams and they want to make a move to add some goaltending depth, the Canadiens are a team they’ll be getting in touch with – if Montreal isn’t calling them first. Between that and them now having an extra defenseman in the fold in veteran Jeff Petry, the Canadiens could be a team to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.
Why would Buffalo conceivably want to send Levi down? The Sabres need to make the playoffs *this* season, or all the momentum they’ve been building the last couple years will fizz out like a punctured balloon. They need their best players on the ice, in Buffalo, and not play waiver-eligible games because they’d rather send their #1 goalie down and lose games just to avoid losing their #3 goalie on waivers.
-He’s only 21
-He’s only played 7 pro games
-Buffalo is not that good defensively
-ULP needs a chance and you don’t want 2 rookie goalies on the team
A smart GM let’s Levi spend some time in the AHL, and if he plays well, the occasional call up if there is an injury.
If you are depending on Levi to make or break your playoff aspirations, your team is in trouble.
UPL lost all his shootouts & seemed to allow (like Comrie) a lot of soft goals. There is still upside in UPL but Levi was signed to be one of the pieces of the Sabres building a contender.
Buffalo added Clifton & Johnson to fill the #4 & #5 slots defensively. Continued improvements & better health from Dahlin (23yo), Samuelson & Power (20yo) will also help Buffalo improve defensively. Levi has shown that he can perform well under pressure (for Canada at the World Juniors Tournament & at Northeastern) & he is 22yo & not a 18yo coming out of Juniors.
Exactly what I was about to say. No way you’re rolling a goalie with 7 NHL games as your #1.
You will because Levi also was given Bonus A in all of his 3 years of his ELC. Levi had 1 year left to go to finish his college eligibility & to become a FA. GMKA acquired Levi as part of the Rhino trade to Florida. Levi is not a 18yo Juniors goalie but a 22yo college goalie with over 80 games starting & his starting nod in the World Juniors Tournament.
Ah yes, the NHL goalie pipeline of Northeastern U.
22 is still incredibly young for an NHL goalie, nevermind an expected starter. I did like Buffalo’s D upgrades, though.
I don’t see the Sabres sending down Levi. DeSmith would be a improvement over Comrie but the question is the acquisition cost of DeSmith. Gibson has been trending downward the last 3 seasons & finished with a 3.99GAA last season (worst than both UPL & Comrie). Levi showed in his 7 games last season during the Sabres regular season finish that he is not a 18yo goalie but a 22yo goalie with 2 seasons straight of playing meaningful hockey games in college. No way would I give Montreal a 1st, 2nd or any top prospect for DeSmith in a trade.
I dont think anyone in their right mind expects that kind of return for DeSmith.
I read articles that stated Anaheim was looking for a 1st for Gibson along with them only willing to retain 35% or less.
Gibson isnt that far removed from discussions as the best goalie in the NHL. DeSmith was never even close to that and is only worse as of late.
DeSmith would only be an upgrade over Comrie who will be placed on waivers so why bother.
Comrie can also bounce back & post a season like he did 2 years ago. Levi is not a 18yo Juniors goalie who just got drafted like UPL was. Levi also got to work the last 30 days of last season with Craig Anderson as Buffalo gave Levi 7 starts out of the last 8 games. Unless a Markstrom can be acquired I see Buffalo’s goalie depth chart as….
Levi
UPL
Comrie
For next season
With a Markstrom type goalie the depth chart will be….
Levi
“Markstrom type goalie”
Markstrom would be my add for a veteran goalie addition- level play the last few seasons & $6mil per x 3 years left.
I don’t understand why Montreal even took desmith in the first place. I’m thankful they did to make that trade work, but it seems they got very little for getting involved in the whole thing.
Well they get petry back after trading him for less cap hit aswell as being able to hold half themselves for his cap hit to be 2.34 to the acquiring team, that is worth a 2nd round pick in my eyes or a ok prospect. They also freed up 2 forward spots which they needed cuz they have soo many young guys that need time. My thought is they trade petry in the next 3 weeks. And take 3 goalies into camp if no team has a goalie get hurt then they either waive 1 or take them into the season, wait another couple weeks to see if said injury happens. In summery a 2nd round pick and 2 freed up forward spots is what they got and want, petry will get traded and bring a 2nd/prospect back at his 2.34 cap hit. Then they get lucky and get a 2nd-5th for 1 of there goales now or whats most likly waive 1
I guess the lower cap hit will help, but petrys no trade list certainly made it hard to move him in the first place. Montreal assuming they can move him for a decent pick is presumptuous to me. We’ll see
Is a surplus of mediocrity really a surplus? DeSmith is the only goalie they have that seems interesting.