Oilers' season in jeopardy due to massive mistake with the Canadiens

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Elias Edmonson
May 17, 2024 (10:52)

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Between Calvin Pickard and Stuart Skinner, Connor McDavid's team really could have used a Samuel Montembeault in goal during these 2024 playoffs.

When the Vancouver Canucks were confirmed as the Edmonton Oilers' opponents in the second round, few gave Rick Tocchet's squad a chance.

They thought the Oilers' two-headed monster would destroy the young and inexperienced Canucks goalie.

However, that was not the case because, after five games, Vancouver leads three wins to two. They have even scored more goals in this series than Edmonton, even with their third goalie, Arturs Silovs.

This shows that history repeats itself with the Oilers. Despite all the offensive talent the team has, they don't have a goalie to back them up. They don't need an all-star goalie like Carey Price, but just a goalie who will make key saves at the right time. It turns out that currently, Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard are not getting the job done, unlike their opponent (Silovs).

In a recent article, Jean-Nicolas Blanchet of TVA Sports highlighted the common thread of all the goalies who have played with the Stanley Cup. It is mental toughness. Something that Skinner and Pickard greatly lack and not Silovs as we can see.

In his article, the journalist also mentioned the goalies who made a difference in their organization. He names among others Cam Ward (2006), Matt Murray (2012), Jordan Binnington (2019), and Adin Hill (2023) who all took over from the number 1 goalie, as Silovs is currently doing, to win the big trophy. It shows that it's not about the salary but what's in the mind!

Samuel Montembeault with the Oilers? A trade that could have changed everything for them right now

Blanchet added more regarding the Oilers' goalies. According to him, adding a Samuel Montembeault to this lineup would give them direct, or almost direct, access to the Stanley Cup.

«With his temperament as calm as a frozen lake, it seems to me that Samuel Montembeault has the profile of the goalies mentioned above. I think the Oilers, for example, would be tough to beat with him in net. I even think he would win the cup. However, if the CH had never given him a chance, he might be languishing from league to league.» - Jean-Nicolas Blanchet

Don't get carried away, it doesn't mean that Montembeault will definitely bring a cup to the CH. It means that in a team whose offense is at its peak, the Quebecer would be able to keep the team in the game by not allowing the goal that breaks their back.

Nonetheless, the Quebecer is very eager to play a playoff game at the Bell Centre. He would certainly do a good job with his legendary calm.

At the start of the season, before the signing of Montembeault's new contract, there were numerous trade rumors between the Montreal Canadiens and the Edmonton Oilers.

Maybe they should have done everything to acquire Montembeault via trade, but hats off to Kent Hughes for standing his ground and keeping the Quebec goalie.