The New York Rangers have suddenly become one of the NHL’s most interesting teams to watch on the trade market. With Igor Shesterkin ruled out for the remainder of the 2026-27 season, general manager Chris Drury faces a difficult question: can New York realistically compete without its franchise goaltender?
Meanwhile, something intriguing is happening with the Montreal Canadiens.
Jacob Fowler just delivered a spectacular 30-save shutout against the Detroit Red Wings, while Jakub Dobes remains another young option in Montreal’s crease. That raises an uncomfortable question about veteran goaltender Sam Montembeault and his long-term future with the Canadiens.
Montembeault is among the goaltenders the Rangers could consider acquiring. There is no confirmed trade negotiation between the clubs, but the connection makes hockey sense.
Montembeault carries a manageable $3.15 million salary-cap hit and is eligible for unrestricted free agency following this season.
Could Montreal’s emerging goaltending depth become the answer to New York’s biggest problem? And would Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes actually consider moving Montembeault while the team’s young goaltenders are still developing?
Those are the questions worth watching.
Could the Canadiens Trade Sam Montembeault to the New York Rangers?
The Rangers’ goaltending situation changed dramatically when Shesterkin suffered a lower-body injury against the Washington Capitals on October 9.
New York subsequently announced that its star goaltender would miss the remainder of the season. Veteran backup Joonas Korpisalo is also sidelined, leaving Dylan Garand with an unexpected opportunity.
Garand responded admirably Sunday, making 19 saves in a 6-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks.
However, one strong performance does not necessarily eliminate the need for an experienced alternative.
I believe the Rangers would be making a mistake if they rushed into an expensive blockbuster without giving Garand a legitimate opportunity. But there is a significant difference between trusting a young goaltender and expecting him to handle the workload of a Stanley Cup contender for six months.
Montembeault could provide a middle ground.
Unlike a potential Connor Hellebuyck blockbuster, acquiring Montembeault would not necessarily saddle New York with another lengthy, expensive goaltending contract beyond Shesterkin’s return.
That’s what makes this particular Rangers trade rumor worth exploring.
Why Jacob Fowler’s Rise Changes Montreal’s Goaltending Picture
Montreal’s decision could be more complicated than New York’s.
Fowler’s performance against Detroit on October 10 provided another glimpse of his enormous potential. He turned aside all 30 shots through regulation and overtime before Zack Bolduc secured Montreal’s shootout victory.
The performance was impressive not simply because Fowler recorded a shutout, but because he demonstrated the composure required to survive a tight NHL game with virtually no offensive margin for error.
Meanwhile, Dobes has already established himself as a legitimate NHL option.
Montembeault’s recent numbers also deserve examination. After posting a .902 save percentage during the 2024-25 season, he dropped to .872 across 25 appearances in 2025-26.
That decline matters when evaluating his potential trade value.
My observation: Montreal’s biggest challenge isn’t deciding whether Fowler has the talent to become its future starting goaltender. It’s determining how quickly the organization should allow that future to arrive.
Trading Montembeault could open additional NHL starts for Fowler and Dobes. Keeping him would provide experienced insurance if either young goaltender struggles.
And there’s another complication: Montembeault himself is recovering from a lower-body injury.
Is Sam Montembeault Becoming Expendable in Montreal?
The Canadiens announced October 9 that Montembeault was expected to miss 10–14 days.
That injury makes any immediate transaction more difficult.
However, his expiring contract creates an interesting organizational decision. Montreal must eventually determine whether it wants to extend Montembeault, allow him to leave in free agency or explore his value on the trade market.
Personally, I believe an extension would be difficult to justify unless the organization genuinely sees a continuing role for three NHL-calibre goaltenders.
The Canadiens have invested considerably in developing Fowler and Dobes. At some point, those players need meaningful opportunities rather than simply sitting behind a veteran.
Montreal’s Goalie Decision
2025–26 regular-season performance
Goals Allowed per 100 Shots
What Would a Rangers–Canadiens Montembeault Trade Cost?
Montembeault’s contract is arguably his most attractive feature from New York’s perspective.
With a $3.15 million annual cap hit, he represents a significantly smaller financial commitment than many established starting goaltenders.
The Rangers also have salary-cap flexibility to consider following Shesterkin’s move to long-term injured reserve, although their actual spending capacity depends on LTIR accounting and subsequent roster transactions.
A straightforward trade involving a draft pick would be easier to analyze than a complicated multi-player deal.
Would Montreal accept a mid-round draft selection?
That is where negotiations could become interesting. My hypothetical starting point would be a conditional mid-round pick, with the final return dependent on Montembeault’s medical clearance, performance and the number of competing buyers.
This is an editorial trade proposal, not a reported offer.
From Montreal’s perspective, retaining salary could potentially increase the return. But Hughes would need to decide whether retaining part of an expiring contract is worthwhile.
What Would Montembeault Cost New York?
2026–27 annualized cap-hit scenarios
| MTL retains | NYR cap charge | MTL cap relief |
|---|---|---|
| 0% | $3,150,000 | $3,150,000 |
| 25% | $2,362,500 | $2,362,500 |
| 50% | $1,575,000 | $1,575,000 |
Calculated as $3,150,000 × (1 − retained percentage). Montreal’s relief equals New York’s charge in this simple one-player example. These figures do not represent available cap space, guaranteed LTIR capacity or an actual trade proposal. Other roster moves and applicable CBA restrictions may change the result.
NHLTradeRumor.com Trade Value Index: Is Montembeault Worth the Gamble?
Goaltending is notoriously difficult to evaluate through conventional statistics alone.
A netminder’s save percentage can fluctuate significantly based on defensive structure, workload, scoring chances and confidence.
Montembeault’s disappointing 2025-26 numbers shouldn’t erase what he accomplished during the previous three seasons, when he consistently posted save percentages above .900.
However, those earlier results shouldn’t automatically outweigh his recent struggles either.
My assessment is that Montembeault represents a potentially useful short-term acquisition rather than a guaranteed solution.
The Rangers should be interested in his experience and contract flexibility. Montreal should be interested in what a competitive goalie market might offer.
But both organizations have reasons to be patient.
Montembeault to the Rangers
Original editorial fit analysis
Potential fit, significant obstacles
Will the Rangers Actually Make a Trade With Montreal?
This is where I would exercise caution.
The Rangers have already demonstrated confidence in Garand, and head coach Mike Sullivan has emphasized the young goaltender’s ability to compete.
New York doesn’t have to make a blockbuster simply because Shesterkin is unavailable.
Montreal, meanwhile, has no reason to rush Montembeault out the door while he remains injured.
I believe the next couple of weeks will tell us considerably more about whether this potential trade has genuine momentum.
If Garand continues producing strong results, Drury can afford patience. If the Rangers start surrendering costly goals or experience additional injury problems, the market for an experienced goaltender could become more urgent.
On Montreal’s side, continued strong play from Fowler and Dobes would strengthen the argument that Montembeault is no longer essential to the club’s long-term plans.
The intriguing part is that both teams could benefit from waiting.
My prediction: Montembeault is a plausible name for New York to monitor, but I wouldn’t expect an immediate deal. His health, Garand’s performance and Montreal’s confidence in its younger goaltenders should determine whether this develops beyond speculation.
For now, the Rangers and Canadiens have an interesting possible trade fit—not a confirmed blockbuster in the making.
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