An apparently routine image at the Brossard complex has unleashed a wave of speculation. Samuel Montembeault, the Canadiens’ goaltender, showed up on Monday wearing the team’s jersey, accompanied by Marco Marciano, the Laval Rocket’s goaltending coach. Nothing spectacular at first glance, but when it involves a Canadiens goalie, every detail becomes magnified.
The context matters: just last week, the organization sent him to the Laval Rocket for conditioning purposes. Montembeault has not played since December 9, when he came in as relief against the Tampa Bay Lightning. His last start dates back to December 2 against the Ottawa Senators. At 29 years old, he has a record of 5-6-1 in 15 games this season, with a goals-against average of 3.65 and a save percentage of 0.857.
During practice, Marciano was particularly active, giving instructions in French that Montembeault listened to attentively. The detail did not go unnoticed: the closeness between the two and the goalie’s presence in the Canadiens jersey fuel the narrative of a possible imminent return.
Recent numbers contrast with his performance in the 2024-2025 season, when he was used in 62 games and recorded 31 wins, with a 2.82 goals-against average and a save percentage of 0.902. In his NHL career, Montembeault totals 221 games and 85 wins, with a 3.24 goals-against average and a save percentage of 0.897.
The club has confirmed that the goaltender will return to action after the Christmas break. However, the image from Brossard has already become symbolic: a reminder that sometimes a jersey can speak louder than any official statement.