Samuel Montembeault and Cayden Primeau must have been shaken when they learned that the Montreal Canadiens had considered signing Marc-André Fleury this summer.
For these two young goalkeepers, this revelation must have resonated as a lack of confidence on the part of Kent Hughes and the organization.
Particularly for Montembeault, this isn’t the first time he’s received mixed signals about his place on the team.
Starting last year, despite an encouraging season where Montembeault established himself as a solid goaltender, rumors and management decisions constantly cast doubt on his long-term role.
The Canadian’s proven interest in Yaroslav Askarov fueled this feeling of betrayal.
The organization was even among the top teams in the running to acquire Askarov, which made it clear that Hughes and Gorton weren’t entirely sold on their current duo.
The simple fact that Fleury was mentioned as an option to potentially replace Montembeault or Primeau sends an unequivocal message: management was looking for an immediate solution in front of the net, which shakes the confidence of the goaltenders on duty.
The revelation of the Montreal Canadiens’ interest in a Quebec veteran was revealed rather unexpectedly in a very specific context
This happened during the broadcast of an episode of the documentary series “Reconstruction” on Crave, which offers privileged access behind the scenes of the Canadian.
In one sequence, we see Kent Hughes, the general manager of the CH, in full discussion with his team, including Jeff Gorton, on the management of goalkeepers and the possibilities of future exchanges.
It was during this discussion, filmed before the trade of Jake Allen to the New Jersey Devils, that Hughes and Gorton mentioned the possibility of signing Fleury.
This sequence captivated attention because, although the veteran Fleury was ultimately unavailable as a free agent, the fact that the Canadian seriously considered adding him to their roster reveals the lack of confidence in the current tandem.
This revelation therefore took place through images filmed well before the exchange of Allen, but which were made public well after, triggering a real debate around the confidence that Kent Hughes and his team place in Montembeault and Primeau.
Even though Fleury never actually reached free agent status, the fact that Hughes and Gorton considered signing him is indicative of their doubts.
For Montembeault, this situation is particularly painful. After agreeing to a three-year contract at a reasonable salary, he hoped to receive management’s trust in return.
But instead, he’s constantly put to the test, having to prove his worth over and over again.
This feeling of betrayal is all the more intense when we consider that he has always shown his dedication to the team and to the city of Montreal.
As for Cayden Primeau, although he is still developing, this situation adds additional pressure.
His future with the Canadiens is also uncertain, especially since the team seems to be juggling several options for its goalie position.
Primeau, like Montembeault, will have to redouble his efforts to prove that he deserves his place.
The fact that Hughes seriously considered signing Fleury, even for one final season, highlights a glaring lack of confidence in his young goalkeepers.
What could have been a great opportunity for Fleury to finish his career in Montreal has certainly destabilized Montembeault and Primeau, who find themselves in a more precarious position than expected.
One thing is certain: Kent Hughes does not trust them.
