{"id":551521,"date":"2026-03-21T16:21:12","date_gmt":"2026-03-21T16:21:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/551521\/"},"modified":"2026-03-21T16:21:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-21T16:21:12","slug":"montreal-canadiens-scapegoat-search-for-2025-26-season-the-hockey-writers-montreal-canadiens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/551521\/","title":{"rendered":"Montreal Canadiens Scapegoat Search for 2025-26 Season – The Hockey Writers – Montreal Canadiens"},"content":{"rendered":"

This one loss hurt. Leading 1-0 heading into the third period against the Atlantic Division-rival Detroit Red Wings<\/a> last Thursday, the Montreal Canadiens gave up the game-tying goal early in the final frame and the eventual game-winning goal late, the latter off an especially egregious turnover on the part of defenseman Mike Matheson deep in his own zone.<\/p>\n

Considering the significance of the must-win game<\/a>, which, following the loss, helped narrow the Canadiens hold on third place in the division to, uh, zero points, it\u2019s easy to understand why many are pointing the finger at Matheson. However, there a few things to keep in mind.<\/p>\n

For starters, before thoughts of the Canadiens missing the playoffs truly become overwhelming, they are well above the pace they set last season when they admittedly snuck into the playoffs on the last day of their regular season. One way or another, they should realistically have little trouble improving on that finish.<\/p>\n

Related: Top 5 Ways the Canadiens Can Improve Over Last Season<\/a><\/p>\n

Secondly, if they don\u2019t, despite Matheson\u2019s new five-year, $30 million contract<\/a>, there would be much likelier scapegoats than the Canadiens\u2019 resident (and native-son) workhorse, who leads the team in ice time. Take these next five names, ranked in increasing order, for example:<\/p>\n

5. Patrik Laine<\/p>\n

From a player that is on the ice the most to one who has only played in a handful of games, Patrik Laine<\/a> has become a preferred whipping boy in the minds of many in the media. While you would think it would be hard for the press to scapegoat the guy because he\u2019s been injured all season long, where there\u2019s a will there\u2019s a way.<\/p>\n

Keep in mind, this is someone who was brought in to add offensive firepower two summers ago. Despite sustaining a knee injury in his first preseason with the Canadiens, Laine did just that, by leading the team with 15 power-play goals in just 52 games played last season. In fact, even though he has developed a reputation as a negative influence on the team, the Habs played .621 hockey from the point at which he debuted in December 2024 to climb out of the Eastern Conference basement and make the posteason for the first time since 2021.<\/p>\n

\"MontrealMontreal Canadiens forward Patrik Laine \u2013 (David Kirouac-Imagn Images)<\/p>\n

However, for some, Laine just doesn\u2019t try hard enough or doesn\u2019t have the defensive wherewithal to contribute on a regular basis. While there may be something to his lack of defensive ability, general manager Kent Hughes knew the player he was acquiring at the time. Laine has more than delivered, arguably well worth the price of admission, in the form of a forward-group-high $8.7 million cap hit.<\/p>\n

Some may interpret Laine\u2019s hit as the reason the Canadiens didn\u2019t make any moves at all at the trade deadline, when clearly they need help. They would be wrong, though.<\/p>\n

4. Kent Hughes<\/p>\n

Of course, don\u2019t let the fact Hughes has gone on record<\/a> as saying Laine\u2019s contract didn\u2019t get in the way of a trade at the deadline get in the way of a lazy narrative. The truth is, Laine\u2019s contract expires this coming offseason, which always made it a fairly low-risk investment on the part of the Canadiens. Hughes\u2019 supposed inability to acquire reinforcements at the deadline, when the teams against which they\u2019re competing for a playoff spot did, is on him.<\/p>\n

However, while the Canadiens are poised to improve in the standings this season, it\u2019s hard to see them as legitimate contenders, because of their volatile brand of hockey. Sure, they may lead the league in comeback wins this season, but they\u2019re also in a tie for the most blown leads<\/a>, with the loss to the Red Wings obviously adding to their issues there.<\/p>\n

Devoting assets to shoring up this specific team\u2019s chances at a Stanley Cup seems like a waste when prices at the deadline were exorbitantly high. When the team\u2019s goaltending just isn\u2019t cutting it. And, with top-prospect Jacob Fowler waiting in the wings to leave his mark in net and on the organization, upgrading there would have been incredibly risky. <\/p>\n

Hughes more so deserves props for making the smart move, by not making any move at all.<\/p>\n

3. Jakub Dobes<\/p>\n

Similar to with Matheson, Dobes was front and centre following the Wings loss. After all, he\u2019s the Canadiens\u2019 last line of defense, and he let in two goals at critical points of the game. However, objectively speaking, he\u2019s not at fault here. While he\u2019s had bad games here and there, pointing a finger at a goalie who earned a .926 save percentage (SV%) in the game in question would certainly be a choice, especially seeing as the first goal got deflected in right at the crease and the last one he \u201callowed\u201d was to a top goal-scorer, who was let in all alone.<\/p>\n

It would again be lazy to point to his overall .893 SV%, which is admittedly lower than the .896 league average and suggest he hasn\u2019t been doing his job. As a rookie, who\u2019s 22-8-4 this season and technically holds more wins as a first-year player than Carey Price, he\u2019s doing his job, which is to win games, perfectly fine on the whole.<\/p>\n

Most career wins with the @CanadiensMTL<\/a> as a rookie goaltender:
45- Ken Dryden
42- Jacques Plante
38- Bill Durnan
32- Rogie Vachon
31- Wayne Thomas
29- Jakub Dobes (Thanks to backstopping a 3-2 overtime victory earlier tonight vs the Bruins)
28- George Hainsworth
28- Gerry McNeil pic.twitter.com\/ob17ASBEjA<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) March 18, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n

Will there be games where Dobes looks his modest experience level? Of course. The same is true of Fowler, though. However, throwing either rookie under the bus doesn\u2019t do anyone any good, seeing as each of these goalies could represent the team\u2019s future in net. With that, it\u2019s sometimes easy to forget Dobes is getting it done in the present, because he\u2019s not doing it at an elite level. He\u2019s still accomplishing a great deal. Honestly, if there\u2019s one reason to be mad with regard to Dobes\u2019 play, it\u2019s that he hasn\u2019t played enough, and that\u2019s hardly on him.<\/p>\n

2. Martin St. Louis<\/p>\n

If there is someone to blame for the team maybe missing the playoffs (while playing .618 hockey), head coach Martin St. Louis could be them. To be clear, this is largely satire and this entry is far from intended as an indictment of St. Louis\u2019 contributions to the franchise since he replaced Dominique Ducharme behind the bench and helped lead a rebuilding team from out of last place in the entire league to an eventual playoff spot in 2025.<\/p>\n

However, there is no denying St. Louis\u2019 at-times questionable deployment decisions<\/a>. Now, this team is far from perfectly constructed. It\u2019s something of a work in progress still. They still lack a legitimate No. 2 centre and there are too many left-handed defensemen (and not enough righties). However, insisting on playing your team\u2019s most dynamic blue liner and maybe player in Lane Hutson on his off side to compensate is kind of dumbfounding.<\/p>\n

In St. Louis\u2019 defense, again this team has still performed admirably, and, as things stand currently, they are in a playoff spot right now. That shouldn\u2019t be forgotten. Were the team\u2019s goaltending even average, they\u2019d be far less at risk of falling out of a spot and would maybe even be the conversation for the best team in the Eastern Conference. However, St. Louis has consistently shot himself in the foot going back to last year\u2019s No. 1, Sam Montembeault<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Say what you want about the merits of loyalty, however admirable the trait is. It doesn\u2019t take away from how Montembeault is 10-8-4, with a 3.23 goals-against average and .872 SV%. Forget mediocre. Those are bad numbers. And, if you take away an impressive performance against the non-playoff Winnipeg Jets right before the Olympic break, he\u2019s lost his last four games, each in less-than-ideal fashion.<\/p>\n

With exception to the first in that stretch, a 4-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Jan. 22, in which Montembeault allowed the game\u2019s first three goals, the Canadiens held a late lead in each of those games, only to eventually lose. Say what you want about Dobes against the Wings instead or his inconsistency in giving up six goals to the San Jose Sharks early this month. Montembeault has been consistently unreliable. There should be no sugarcoating it.<\/p>\n

The question becomes, is it the fault of Montembeault, who\u2019s objectively only had one statistically impressive season out of five with the Canadiens, or is it the fault of St. Louis for seemingly failing to move on on an emotional level from that one season?<\/p>\n

Does it matter? It\u2019s clear where the fault will lie, justifiably or not.<\/p>\n

1. Sam Montembeault<\/p>\n

If there\u2019s someone who will be blamed, it looks like it\u2019s already going to be Montembeault. After all, the Canadiens have already called up Fowler and are playing him as part of their one-two goaltending tandem with Dobes and some within the media are already suggesting he\u2019s played his last game for the Habs, a 6-5 shootout loss to the Anaheim Ducks on March 6<\/a>, in which he spotted them an early lead, allowed the Ducks to get back in it after the Habs had taken the lead themselves and gave up the game-tying goal with less than a minute left. And, oh, yeah, he gave up five goals, several of which were of the shady variety.<\/p>\n

\"MontrealMontreal Canadiens goalie Sam Montembeault \u2013 (Eric Bolte-Imagn Images)<\/p>\n

It doesn\u2019t matter if it\u2019s fair or not. Montembeault was going to be the odd man out in the crease eventually anyway, with a contract that makes him an unrestricted free agent in 2027. Both Dobes and Fowler will remain under team control for considerably longer.<\/p>\n

Montembeault\u2019s effort level has always been consistently high. And he admirably climbed up the depth chart to become the guy from a third-string waiver-wire pickup in 2021, who for all intents and purposes represented little more than a body to play the role of cannon fodder early in those rebuilding years. He\u2019s paid his dues. For that he deserves a lot of respect, but little more in an industry where it\u2019s all about what you have done lately.<\/p>\n

Even when Montembeault was playing relatively well, he earned the ire of fans, who had their eyes on a 2023 draft pick other than David Reinbacher, which is bonkers. Forget the extra points the Canadiens earned in the standings because of Montembeault\u2019s strong play. The Habs as an organization made a decision to choose the as-of-yet-still-unproven Reinbacher at No. 5, because of the aforementioned lack of right-handed defensemen in the system when plenty of other offensively talented players remained on the board. That speaks more to flawed decision-making and roster construction at the top of organization.<\/p>\n

\"SUBSCRIBE<\/a><\/p>\n

Now\u2019s it the opposite situation, where Montembeault has left a significant amount of points on the table. Those points could admittedly mean the difference between favourable playoff positioning and, as crazy as it would have sounded even a week ago, missing the postseason altogether.<\/p>\n

What bears repeating is the following: The Canadiens are currently in a playoff spot. How they play from this point forward will dictate if they make it or not. If Montembeault is indeed out of the picture, he can\u2019t really be blamed for what transpires between now and the end of the season. That won\u2019t stop a lot of angry people from trying, though.<\/p>\n

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