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Kent Hughes reveals his clear goaltending plan following the Danault trade
Kent Hughes just sent a clear message in net, he is sticking with the in-house plan. On Saturday morning, following the Phillip Danault trade, the GM repeated:
"The solution is internal."
He has no intention of making a trade to change his goaltenders. On Tuesday, Samuel Montembeault was assigned to Laval for conditioning.
And Renaud Lavoie summed up the idea like this:
"It's not in the plans to make a trade for a goaltender."
By the numbers, Montembeault is 5-6-1 in 15 games, with a 3.65 goals-against average and a .857 save percentage.
His most recent start with the Canadiens was Tuesday December 2nd against Ottawa, before being sent down to Laval.
Kent Hughes is keeping the solution internal
Meanwhile, Dobes holds the fort with a 12-5-2 record in 17 starts this season. His save percentage is .893 and his goals-against average is 2.91.
Fowler arrives with numbers that inspire, even at just 21 years old. In 15 appearances in Laval, he has a 2.09 goals-against average, a .919 save percentage, and three shutouts.
Danault arrives at age 32, with five assists in 30 games in Los Angeles.
The Canadiens acquired him for a 2026 second-round pick, and he carries a cap hit of 5.5 million. This type of move shows Hughes is active, but not to the point of going outside for a goaltender.
Hughes' plan is not to search for a savior, but to establish healthy competition.
If it works, the Canadiens stabilize the crease without paying a premium. And if it does not, at least he will have tried everything before panicking.
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DECEMBRE 20 | 310 ANSWERS Kent Hughes reveals his clear goaltending plan following the Danault trade Should Kent Hughes stick with "the solution is internal"? | ||