Value of: Backup Goalie To Montreal

[Habsrule]

Last year Montreal went with a three ring circus in net with Montembeault, Allen and Primeau. They didn’t want to send Primeau down because they assumed that someone would pick him up on waivers. The eventually traded Jake Allen.

That has proven to be a mistake as Cayden Primeau is statistically the worst goalie in the NHL this year. 4.70 GAA and a .836 save percentage in 11 games this year.

Montembeault just played in his third game in four nights. That is too much for a goalie to handle unless it is the playoffs and then both teams are doing it. They need a reliable backup. Primeau has pretty much proved that he is not capable.

Looking back in hindsight Jake Allen should not have been traded and it would have solved this whole issue but that is in the past and nothing can be done to change it.

Montreal have Jakub Dobes in the AHL who has been great this year with a 2.44 GAA and a .910 save percentage through 14 games. They also have Jacob Fowler in the NCAA who has a 1.73 GAA and a .933 save percentage through 15 games. It looks like help is on the way but not here for a while yet.

What teams have a sound back up goalie available? If need be the Habs could just wait and see who hits waivers and claim them for free. They are also not looking for a goalie with a big salary or lots of term. Just some goalie who would give Montreal a chance to win some games.

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[Viqsi]

So we won? That means we won, right?

 

[lanceuppercut75]

I already suggested Merzlikins for Josh Anderson. I suppose you could also do Grubauer instead of Merzlikins, if Seattle is willing to retain at least 10%.

Brossoit (or possibly Soderblom) for Primeau and a pick is a reasonable idea.

Lyon from Detroit would be a great backup, but maybe too costly for a non-playoff team to spend assets to acquire as a rental. What about Husso (50% retained) though? I assume it wouldn't cost too much, maybe even just Primeau straight up or something like Primeau + 5th?

Annunen (Nashville) would maybe be available? Cheap and not a rental. Young-ish. Another younger non-rental would be Tarasov (Columbus), but apparently he sucks this year. Maybe a change of scenery helps?

Vanecek and Georgiev (San Jose) should be available as rentals, if you consider them upgrades on Primeau. Forsberg from Ottawa should be available as a rental for probably just Primeau straight up (?).

 

[voyageur]

How badly do the Canadiens want to tank? Might as well stay the course, Chicago, Nashville and San Jose are leading the charge to the lottery, Buffalo is trying to make ground, but there is still time to be worst in the East, top 4 in the lottery draw.

 

[lanceuppercut75]

I already suggested Merzlikins for Josh Anderson. I suppose you could also do Grubauer instead of Merzlikins, if Seattle is willing to retain at least 10%.

Brossoit (or possibly Soderblom) for Primeau and a pick is a reasonable idea.

Lyon from Detroit would be a great backup, but maybe too costly for a non-playoff team to spend assets to acquire as a rental. What about Husso (50% retained) though? I assume it wouldn't cost too much, maybe even just Primeau straight up or something like Primeau + 5th?

Annunen (Nashville) would maybe be available? Cheap and not a rental. Young-ish. Another younger non-rental would be Tarasov (Columbus), but apparently he sucks this year. Maybe a change of scenery helps?

Vanecek and Georgiev (San Jose) should be available as rentals, if you consider them upgrades on Primeau. Forsberg from Ottawa should be available as a rental for probably just Primeau straight up (?).

I double-checked the stats on all of these guys, just for the heck of it.

Annunen has the best stats, followed by Soderblom.

Annunen may or may not be available, whereas Chicago has 3 goalies once Brossoit is healthy, and one of them is likely to be traded. If you want a backup that can win you games, Soderblom is probably your guy. Why you want to win games when you're tanking is questionable though.

 

[PlayersLtd]

Anton Forsberg + Xavier Bourgeault + 4th for David Savard at 33% retained?

 

[Habsrule]

How badly do the Canadiens want to tank? Might as well stay the course, Chicago, Nashville and San Jose are leading the charge to the lottery, Buffalo is trying to make ground, but there is still time to be worst in the East, top 4 in the lottery draw.

I’m at the point in the Habs rebuild where I want them to start to win some games. Sure getting a top four pick would be perfect for the rebuild but with picking up players like Laine and Carrier they are proving that they are more interested in making the team better.

I am more in the thought process of the fact they have built a decent core and have one of the best prospect pools in the league. Taking steps forward and winning games to give the young players that experience of winning means more to me. Last thing I want for Montreal to do is to be a team that is constantly drafting in the top 10 and never progressing past that rebuild stage. Buffalo and Detroit for example. Don’t get me wrong that I’m not expecting anything crazy but a .500 team is what I am hoping for. Anything above that is just gravy.

With Primeau he has not been giving the team a chance to win. He has started 7 games this year and has given up 25 goals in those games. One game he was pulled two minutes into the third period. His best start this year has been giving up three goals and he has done that only three times.

He is great for a rebuild but I’m sure that the players on the team dread going into a game where he is the starter. With Montembeault playing 3 games in 4 nights I think that the writing is on the wall that the coaches don’t trust Primeau anymore.

 

[BLNY]

Primeau has definitely taken a step back this year. Always prone to a bad goal, last year he was able to make key saves and key times. He hasn't been able to do that this year. While the threat of being taken on waivers was real last year, I don't believe it is this year. I'd risk the claim, send him down to Laval for some games and call up Dobes.

 

[Czechboy]

Don't overthink it.. give Dobes some games.