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Montreal Canadiens: Is New Acquisition DeSmith the Answer in Goal?

By Richard Jelinek

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 18: Casey DeSmith #1 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during the game against the New York Rangers on March 18, 2023 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 18: Casey DeSmith #1 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during the game against the New York Rangers on March 18, 2023 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Getty Images) /
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Last season, goaltender Jake Allen was supposed to be the answer between the pipes for the Montreal Canadiens. However, after failed attempts to prove himself worthy of that spot, it was Sam Montembeault who stepped up and gave the Canadiens the goaltending they needed. Does the Montreal acquisition of goaltender Casey DeSmith solve the questions in goal?

Will DeSmith shine for the Montreal Canadiens?

DeSmith has the second most NHL experience for Montreal behind Allen. Next would be Montembeault and then prospect Cayden Primeau, all of whom played between the pipes for the Canadiens last season. The question heading into training camp is, do the Canadiens go back to Allen for game one, go to Montembeault who played extremely well, or the newcomer DeSmith? This may be a situation where training camp will give us a good indication of where head coach Martin St. Louis may be leaning come day one of the 2023/2024 NHL season.

Last season, DeSmith was 15-16-4 with a 3.17 GAA and a .905 save percentage with the Pittsburgh Penguins. DeSmith, 31, had played his entire career with the Penguins and his career numbers are a 58-44-15 record with a .912 save percentage and a 2.81 GAA with nine shutouts. For the Canadiens last season, Allen was 15-24-3 with a 3.55 GAA and a .891 save percentage and one shutout with Montreal. Montembeault and Primeau combined to go 16-21-3 with a 3.43 GAA and a .876 save percentage. Allen has two years remaining on his contract with the Canadiens, while DeSmith and Montembeault both have two years left until they are UFA’s. Primeau has one year left until he is a RFA.

The plan going forward could be having Montembeault and Primeau in the AHL with the Laval Rocket and Allen and DeSmith as the goaltending duo in Montreal. DeSmith may get the opportunity to start the season between the pipes and be the number one early  but if he fails then St. Louis has Allen and his NHL experience. M ontembeault and Primeau are primed for future success in the NHL as starters but right now it is DeSmith and Allen leading the way. The ruling on the duo for Montreal could also depend on age with Allen being 32, DeSmith 31, Montembeault 26, and Primeau at 23. Both Allen and DeSmith may have a short leash this season as it may be sooner than later that we see one of the younger goaltenders.

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