The 7-3 defeat against the Toronto Maple Leafs risks marking a turning point in the career of Samuel Montembeault.
Beaten six times in a match where he seemed helpless, the Quebec goalkeeper saw his net transformed into a sieve, to the great dismay of the Canadian’s supporters.
Worse still, this poor performance comes on the eve of a crucial match against the New York Rangers, where Jakub Dobeš, the rising prodigy, will take his place in front of the net.
If Dobeš shines, Montembeault could lose his starting position tomorrow, a situation that still seemed improbable a few weeks ago.
Facing the formidable attack of the Maple Leafs, Montembeault never seemed in control. Auston Matthews, William Nylander and the Leafs exploited the flaws in his technique, scoring goals that sometimes seemed too easy.
With an already worrying goals-against average this season, this match only worsened his statistics, further fueling criticism of him.
He now has a goals against average of 2.98 and a save percentage of 898.
The contrast between Montembeault and the expectations for a number one goalie is striking.
While The Athletic classified him among the worst performing goalkeepers in the league, this performance reinforces the idea that he does not have the shoulders to maintain this role in the long term, especially with a defense that sometimes struggles to support him.
Meanwhile, Jakub Dobeš is waiting in the wings, ready to seize the opportunity.
With an impressive debut in the NHL and performances reminiscent of Carey Price’s heyday, Dobeš stands out as a credible, even inevitable, alternative.
David Wilkie, Dobeš’s former coach in the USHL, described him as an exceptional goaltender, capable of making improbable saves and blessed with Olympian calm.
“He’s a future number one in the NHL. 100%, » he declared recently. These words resonate even louder after the Montembeault debacle.
Tomorrow, Dobeš will face Rangers, a strong team that represents a real test for any goalkeeper.
If the young Czech manages to deliver a convincing performance, Martin St-Louis will have no choice but to give him another start, relegating Montembeault to a secondary role.
For Montembeault, the pressure is at its peak. In addition to external criticism, he has to deal with a contract that does not work in his favor.
Signed for three years at a modest salary of $3.15 million per season, with no no-trade clause, he is far from having secured his place in the long term.
This contract, which already reflects limited confidence from the organization, could well become a burden if Dobeš continues to shine.
With Jacob Fowler also on the horizon, Montembeault’s position seems increasingly threatened.
The management of Martin St-Louis in this situation will be crucial. Until now, the head coach has tried to spare Montembeault, designating him as number one goalkeeper despite inconsistent performances.
But after the debacle against Toronto, this strategy could be called into question.
If Dobeš performs well against the Rangers, St-Louis will face a difficult choice: continue to support Montembeault at the risk of compromising the team’s results, or give in to the obvious by giving more responsibilities to Dobeš.
The scenario that is emerging for Montembeault is that of a goaltender who could lose his starting position much sooner than expected.
While he was supposed to be a transitional solution until Fowler arrived, Dobeš is accelerating that transition at lightning speed.
For Montembeault, each match becomes an exam, and the margin for error is shrinking visibly.
Tomorrow, the fate of the Montreal net could well swing in favor of Jakub Dobeš. If the latter succeeds in impressing, Montembeault risks seeing his career with the Canadian take an irreversible turn.
The defeat against the Maple Leafs is more than just a setback for Samuel Montembeault: it is a wake-up call.
-Between external criticism, Dobeš’ performance and the organization’s expectations, he finds himself in the heart of a nightmare that could seal his fate.
The sky is heavy above Montembeault, and the storm could break tomorrow.
For him, the future hangs by a thread, and this thread is in the hands of Jakub Dobeš, who will only have to continue his momentum to definitively overthrow the hierarchy.
Yes, Montembeault could lose his starting position…as early as tomorrow…
His life is already turned upside down.
If tonight’s crushing defeat left its mark, the reactions on social networks added an additional layer to his nightmare.
Already put under pressure by his inconsistent performances and by the growing shadow of Jakub Dobeš, the Quebec goalkeeper is now the target of an avalanche of criticism, sometimes cruel, on online platforms.
On social networks, Internet users do not mince their words. Hashtags like #MontembeaultPassoire or #DobesTime have appeared in trends in Quebec, while photo montages and memes featuring the six goals conceded by Montembeault are spreading at lightning speed.
Some fans, often impatient, openly demand that Dobeš become the starting goalkeeper from the next match:
“Montembeault has just signed his last match as a starter. Give the net to Dobeš for good! » writes a user.
Others, more mockingly, refer to his unflattering ranking in The Athletic:
“It went through like Swiss cheese. »
The praise for Jakub Dobeš on social media only amplifies the uneasiness. Fans are sharing clips of his impressive performances, already calling him the new Carey Price.
The publications where Dobeš is celebrated as the savior of the Montreal net contrast brutally with the acidic comments on Montembeault.
“Montembeault: 6 goals conceded. Dobeš: a wall. The choice is easy, right? »
Even public figures and sports journalists add their two cents, openly criticizing Martin St-Louis’ decisions to keep Montembeault as number one goalie.
In the modern era, where every action is scrutinized and commented on in real time, social networks often become a cruel mirror for athletes.
Montembeault, who already has to deal with the pressure of matches and the rise in power of Dobeš, is now exposed to constant judgment from the public.
This social pressure is not limited to mockery: some fans even question his commitment and motivation, insinuating that he is more concerned with distractions like his brand new helmet than with his performance on the ice.
As Jakub Dobeš prepares to take the net against the Rangers, social media attention will inevitably turn to him.
If Dobeš shines, Montembeault risks seeing negative comments intensify, and the transition to the young goaltender could become inevitable.
Social networks, although they can be a platform for celebration and support, have transformed into a real court for Samuel Montembeault.
Between the criticism of his game, the comparisons with Dobeš and the mockery of his recent performance, Montembeault finds himself alone in the face of a media and sporting storm.
Social media will continue to be merciless, and his future with the Canadian could end faster than he imagined.
The real number one…it’s already Dobes…
