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Samuel Montembeault breaks his silence on his Laval Rocket stint
Samuel Montembeault spoke about his stint with the Laval Rocket, and it is generating reactions.
On Tuesday, December 16, the Montreal Canadiens assigned him to the Laval Rocket for a conditioning stint. His most recent game with the Canadiens dated back to December 9, which paved the way for a more regular return to action in the American Hockey League.
The Quebec-born goaltender ultimately made two starts in Cleveland, on December 18 and 20, against the Monsters. The first game ended 5-2, followed by a 2-0 result in the second.
In total, he allowed 5 goals on 52 shots, giving him 47 saves in two games with Laval. It looks like a brief interlude, but the numbers are there, and they are easy to track.
Samuel Montembeault opens up about his stint with the Laval Rocket
Following his recall back with the Canadiens, Montembeault opened up on his stint in Laval.
"I had good practices every day. We didn't try to reinvent the wheel with Marco (Marciano). We looked at some small things and correct some habits. We did a lot of tracking and work on my hands to try to get better and make quality saves"
- Samuel Montembeault, via Chris G
- Samuel Montembeault, via Chris G
"They told me about it after the morning skate. I think we were playing in the morning-I was doing a regular practice with the guys, and then Kent and Jeff met with me. They talked to me about the idea behind that plan.
It allowed me to go play. I hadn't had a start since the beginning of the month, so being able to go down there and work was important. I intended to play two games, and then we were heading out on the road. I wanted to go there with the right mindset, work hard, and get quality reps."
- Sam Montembeault
It allowed me to go play. I hadn't had a start since the beginning of the month, so being able to go down there and work was important. I intended to play two games, and then we were heading out on the road. I wanted to go there with the right mindset, work hard, and get quality reps."
- Sam Montembeault
With the Canadiens this 2025-2026 season, he has appeared in 15 games, recorded 5 wins, carries a 3.65 goals-against average, and a .857 save percentage. Last season, he also handled a heavy workload, playing in 62 games.
From a contract standpoint, he is 29 years old and is currently signed to a three-year deal with a cap hit of $3.15 million per season, through the end of 2026-2027.
Needless to say, when a player at that price point goes down to Laval for playing time, it does not go unnoticed.
A conditioning stint can last up to 14 days, so the window is clear, but it is not unlimited. The notable element is that all of this fits into a well-defined sequence, between December 9 in Montreal and the two starts in Cleveland with the Rocket.
Also worth noting, Martin St-Louis has addressed Monty's role and clearly outlined a plan for his return with the team. The objective is to gradually rebuild his confidence, and he will be given a real opportunity.