The Canadiens made a surprising preseason decision to re-sign veteran goaltender Sam Montembeault while releasing top prospect Jacob Fowler, sparking immediate backlash from fans and analysts. Early performances suggest the move may have backfired, as Montembeault has struggled to deliver the consistency expected of a starting netminder. With Fowler’s promising development and the team’s goaltending situation now in question, the choice raises concerns about long-term planning. The preseason results highlight a potential misstep that could impact the team’s depth and future prospects.

The Canadiens cut top-prospect Jacob Fowler, choosing veteran Sam Montembeault over him to end the preseason. It was the wrong choice.