Samuel Montembeault dreamed aloud.
And sometimes, in the cruel world of hockey, dreaming can be costly. The Quebec goalkeeper still hoped, despite low statistics, for a place with Team Canada for the 4 Nations Showdown.
But this week, Pierre LeBrun, one of the most respected insiders in the industry, brushed aside his ambitions.
LeBrun was clear: St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington and Stanley Cup champion Adin Hill with the Golden Knights will be the team’s top two goalies.
As for the third position, the one usually reserved for the one who will warm up the stands, Montembeault can forget it.
Without saying it explicitly, LeBrun suggested that other options are being considered, definitively burying Montembeault’s hopes.
Logan Thompson, Cam Talbot and Stuart Skinner would be candidates for the 3rd goalie position.
For Montembeault, the news is a blow. This is not only an exclusion, it is a scathing message: he is not even good enough to occupy a symbolic position.
Even to warm up the bench, even to be there in the event of an injury, Team Canada does not want him.
This rejection hurts, especially since Montembeault had publicly confided his desire to defend the colors of Canada to Félix Séguin.
A statement which, in a context where his performances with the Montreal Canadiens left something to be desired, was perceived as a distraction, even proof of disconnection.
On the ice, Montembeault simply hasn’t delivered the goods this season. With a goals-against average of 3.08 and a save percentage of .899, he ranks among the worst starting goalies in the NHL.
These figures, combined with catastrophic performances, make it impossible to justify his presence in a national team.
Meanwhile, its competitors shine. Adin Hill continues to justify his status as champion with solid performances, and Jordan Binnington, although sometimes criticized for his temper, remains a safe bet in crucial moments.
Faced with this competition, Montembeault simply does not have the level.
But Montembeault’s problem goes beyond statistics. It’s about trust, and that’s where it all falls apart.
Team Canada, like the Montreal Canadiens, just doesn’t seem to believe in himself.
This lack of faith has manifested itself on several occasions. Whether it is Kent Hughes’ marked interest in Yaroslav Askarov this summer or the rise of young goaltenders like Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler, everything indicates that Montembeault is not seen as a long-term solution.
Even the supporters, who have long supported the Bécancour goalkeeper, are starting to lose patience.
Repeated mistakes, lack of consistency and, now, this exclusion from Team Canada add to a growing feeling of disillusionment.
Team Canada’s decision could have repercussions well beyond the 4 Nations tournament. For Montembeault, it’s public confirmation that he is not considered an elite goaltender, or even a credible prospect at this level.
This perception could influence his future in the NHL, particularly in Montreal, where replacement rumors are multiplying.
With Jakub Dobes performing in Laval and Jacob Fowler impressing at Boston College, Montembeault could soon lose his position with the Canadiens.
This rejection by Team Canada could be the start of a domino effect that would end his time with the Habs.
What makes this situation even more bitter is that the position of third goalie for Team Canada seemed tailor-made for Montembeault.
With a shortage of big names like Martin Brodeur, Roberto Luongo or Carey Price, this role could have been a chance for him to redeem himself, gain attention and regain some confidence.
But instead, Team Canada turned its back on Montembeault. This choice, although brutal, reflects an unavoidable reality: to represent your country, you have to be impeccable, and Montembeault, this season, is far from it.
For Samuel Montembeault, this rejection is a painful but necessary lesson. It’s not enough to dream, you have to prove. And in the NHL, as at the international level, opportunities are rare and precious.
Montembeault must now refocus, not on distant goals like Team Canada, but on his role with the Canadian.
He must once again become a reliable, consistent goalkeeper capable of holding his team through difficult times.
The sky may have fallen this week, but all is not lost yet. It’s up to him to get up, transform this humiliation into motivation and show, on the ice, that he deserves a second chance.
For now, however, the reality is clear: Samuel Montembeault is not the man he hoped to be. Not for Team Canada. Not for the Montreal Canadiens. And maybe not for the NHL.
The message is brutal, but it is also fair.
It’s up to Montembeault to prove that he can change this narrative.
But today, he must face a merciless truth: he has been judged, and he has been found wanting.
Related News :