The announcement fell like a ton of bricks on the Montreal hockey world: Samuel Montembeault will be the starting goalie this evening against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
After a weekend which confirmed, without a shadow of a doubt, that Jakub Dobeš is the Canadian’s true number one, this decision raises questions, frustrations, and above all a deep incomprehension.
The numbers speak for themselves: five wins in five starts, a .940 save percentage, a 1.55 goals-against average and one shutout.
Dobeš has proven that he is ready, that he is confident and that he is the best choice to guard the goals for CH.
However, despite this brilliant demonstration, Martin St-Louis and the management team persist in wanting to offer Montembeault a role that he no longer deserves.
According to Stéphane Waite, the former Habs goalkeeper coach, the answer is simple: Dobeš’s progression must be “slow and controlled” and Montembeault deserves to remain number one.
“You shouldn’t go too fast with Dobeš”he said. A chilly speech which seems totally disconnected from the current reality of the team.
Montembeault, author of a catastrophic performance against Toronto with six goals allowed in a humiliating 7-3 defeat, did absolutely nothing to deserve to find the net so quickly.
On the contrary, today it represents a brake on the club’s momentum.
The unease is palpable within the Montreal locker room. The players themselves seem to have taken a stance in favor of Dobeš, as captain Nick Suzuki suggested after the victory against Rangers:
“He is the reason why we won. His two incredible saves in overtime saved us. »
When a captain expresses himself like this, it is because he speaks on behalf of the group. Suzuki is not alone: Brendan Gallagher, Juraj Slafkovsky and other players have hinted that they feel more confident with Dobeš behind them.
Why then break this dynamic by recalling Montembeault, when everything points to a natural and inevitable transition towards the young Czech prodigy?
The Bell Center has already decided. During the last match against Rangers, chants of “Dobeš!” Dobes! » resonated throughout the evening, sending an unequivocal message.
However, this decision to bring back Montembeault only adds fuel to the fire, fueling the frustration of a base of supporters who are fed up with political decisions and unjustified favoritism.
-Social networks are also in turmoil. Critics are rife, with supporters questioning the logic of such management.
Some even see it as a desperate attempt to save Montembeault’s ego, rather than a true decision based on performance.
“We are trying to repair something that is not broken”commented a fan online, perfectly summarizing the general feeling.
The alternation advocated by Stéphane Waite, who suggests a ratio of two matches for Montembeault and one for Dobeš, is not only unfair, but dangerous.
In a sport where confidence is a key factor, this decision could break the team’s dynamic and compromise the efforts of the players who fought to snatch two precious points against Rangers.
The argument according to which Montembeault “deserves” to remain number one no longer holds water.
Hockey is a sport where merit is earned on the ice, and the reality is that Dobeš has proven, in a limited but telling sample, that he is ready to carry the burden of a starting goaltender.
By persisting in giving Montembeault opportunities despite his inconsistent performances, the Canadian risks delaying the inevitable. Every game Dobeš spends on the bench is a lost opportunity to consolidate his confidence, accumulate experience and definitively establish himself as the club’s goalkeeper of the future.
With a $3.15 million contract with no no-trade clause, Montembeault is vulnerable to a trade, and tonight could be the ultimate proof that his future no longer lies in Montreal.
Bringing Montembeault back in net tonight against Tampa Bay is a decision that defies logic. While Dobeš has demonstrated that he is the man for the job, this decision feels like a misguided attempt to cling to a status quo that no longer exists.
Fans, players and even some members of the media have understood: Dobeš is number one. Ignoring this reality could cost the Canadian dearly, not only in terms of performance, but also in terms of credibility.
If Montembeault stumbles again this evening, the pressure will become unbearable, and Martin St-Louis will have no choice but to turn the page for good.
The message is clear: the Montembeault era is over, and that of Jakub Dobeš is well and truly underway.
