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![\"Ottawa](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/681740.webp\" "\\"Ottawa")
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\nUnexpected addition for Kent Hughes in Montreal: ‘I’d like to play for the Canadiens’
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Montreal Hockey Fanatics has no direct affiliation to the Montreal Canadiens, NHL or NHLPA<\/p>\n
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Photo credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n
The Montreal Canadiens organization’s recent acquisition isn’t hiding his ambitions.<\/p>\n
Kevin Mandolese, the Laval Rocket’s new goaltender, is openly dreaming of one day breaking through with the big club.<\/p>\n
The Quebec-born goaltender, a Blainville native, has just signed with Laval after a season split between Syracuse, Charlotte and Slovakia.<\/p>\n
Returning to Quebec carries special meaning for him.<\/p>\n
His goal is clear, and he spelled it out in an interview shared by the Rocket:<\/p>\n
“Long term, I’d like to be in the NHL and play for the Canadiens.<\/p>\n
So my mission is to be as consistent as possible in practice and get 1% better every day.”<\/p>\n
– Kevin Mandolese<\/p>\n
Mandolese isn’t a stranger to the organization.<\/p>\n
A tryout contract last year with the Montreal Canadiens never led anywhere, but the agreement is now official.<\/p>\n
Kevin Mandolese’s NHL experience keeps a future Canadiens opportunity within reach<\/p>\n
He has already had a taste of the NHL with the Ottawa Senators, appearing in three games and posting an excellent .916 save percentage.<\/p>\n
The road remains difficult, with three goaltenders already ahead of him in Montreal. But his brief stint in Ottawa showed that he isn’t that far from that level.<\/p>\n
This season in Laval, he’ll need to establish himself as a reliable option while Jakub Dobes<\/a> and Jacob Fowler<\/a> appear set to share the workload at the Bell Centre.If Samuel Montembeault<\/a> were ever traded or released, the door to the big club could open sooner than expected for Mandolese.<\/p>\n Previously on Montreal Hockey Fanatics<\/p>\n POLL<\/p>\n 2 HOURS AGO|50 ANSWERS<\/p>\n Unexpected addition for Kent Hughes in Montreal: ‘I’d like to play for the Canadiens’<\/p>\n Could Kevin Mandolese one day become the Canadiens goalie he dreams of being?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t
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