During his appearance on the Spittin Chiclets podcast, former NHL defenseman Keith Yandle was simply scathing when he spoke about Samuel Montembeault, the Quebec goaltender of the Montreal Canadiens.
It all started innocently when Paul Bissonnette asked Kirby Dach which goalie was popular in Montreal. Dach quickly responded to Montembeault, adding the amusing anecdote that everyone in Quebec knows: he nicknames him “Snacks” because Monty is always snacking, going so far as to eat four to five slices of banana bread per day. match.
That’s when Keith Yandle jumped into the conversation with a condescending tone, recalling his time in Florida with Montembeault.
“I know ‘Monty’, he was the third goalie in Florida, and he was always the first one off the ice,” said Yandle, insinuating that Montembeault was lazy and lacked discipline.
Here is the excerpt that is as uncomfortable as possible:
This arrow quickly drew a response from Kirby Dach, who defended his teammate by claiming that Montembeault has been working hard since his arrival in Montreal.
But Yandle, visibly unconvinced, simply replied sarcastically:
“So he learned. »
Ouch. It’s hard not to sense contempt in Yandle’s tone, and his comment cast a chill on the discussion.
Certainly, it is true that during his time in Florida, Montembeault was accused of taking it easy, with some even mentioning a fat content that was too high for a high-level athlete.
But since he arrived in Montreal, the Quebecer has received an electric shock. The opportunity to become the number one goalie in a market as demanding as Montreal pushed him to redouble his efforts, and his performances last season proved that he had the talent to hold his own.
And he’s definitely lost weight and fat since he’s been in Montreal.
The question remains: Did Yandle really need to ridicule Montembeault like this in public?
After all, players, current or former, should help each other.
Montembeault was able to respond to criticism from Florida by improving his physical condition and demonstrating his work ethic.
But in the end, it is not with words that Montembeault will truly be able to defend himself…or with banana bread…
The best response to Yandle and his detractors will be given on the ice.
After all, this is where true champions shine.
Before Keith Yandle’s gratuitous, even mean, remark, the discussion had already taken an even more embarrassing turn.
Paul Bissonnette, who had no idea who Montembeault was, had to glance at his notes to remember the goalie’s name.
A moment that revealed the extent to which the Quebecer is often ignored or underestimated in the NHL. We would even go further. He is not respected.
Even after taking on the role of number one goalie with the Canadiens, Montembeault seems to not get the recognition he deserves within the league.
This unease did not escape Ryan Whitney, another of the podcast hosts, who had to intervene to change the subject because the atmosphere had become so heavy.
The lack of consideration given to Montembeault, despite his efforts and his obvious progress, is starting to frustrate CH fans, and with good reason.
How hard does a player have to fight to finally be taken seriously, especially when he plays in a market as demanding as Montreal?
In our opinion, Samuel Montembeault will be considered to be Canada’s goalkeeper during the 2026 Olympics. Keith Yandle should show him a little more respect.
Yes, Samuel Montembeault had to learn and adapt, and it is true that his time in Montreal served as a springboard for his career.
But is that a reason for former players like Yandle to ridicule him in public?
And what about Bissonnette, who doesn’t even remember his name without consulting his notes? All this shows to what extent the Canadiens goaltender is still perceived as a second-rate player.
It’s now up to Montembeault to prove, once again, that he deserves not only his place, but also the respect of the entire league.
Keith Yandle deserves to be humiliated in his turn.
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