Habs Prospects
Canadiens Reportedly Not Signing Goaltending Prospect
From an organizational standpoint, few areas are more concerning for the Montreal Canadiens than their current goaltending situation.
With Carey Price all but retired, only Samuel Montembeault, Jake Allen, Cayden Primeau and Jakub Dobes are eligible to play in the NHL, which means the team is one injury away from not being able to fill the four goaltending positions available with the Canadiens and their AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket.
Despite having the option to sign two goaltending prospects, Frederik Dichow and Joe Vrebetic, it seems like neither will be receiving a contract offer anytime soon.
According to Guillaume Lefrancois, the Canadiens have already decided Dichow is not part of their plans moving forward. Dichow must be signed by the June 1st deadline, or they will relinquish his rights.
Dichow spent the last two seasons playing for Frolunda in the SHL, serving as 35-year-old starter Lars Johansson’s backup goaltender.
And though he finished both seasons with a sub .900 save percentage, it’s only fair to say Dichow has shown flashes of brilliance when his team has depended on him most, as evidenced by his .917 save percentage during the Champions League HL.
He also sported a .911 save percentage serving as Denmark’s starter at the World Championship.
It’s rather difficult to get a read on goaltenders playing in Europe, and there’s no doubt Dichow is yet to take a significant step forward in his development, but given the lack of signed goaltenders in the organization, the decision does come as a surprise.
Lefrancois also reported that Joe Vrebetic, the other goaltender that was due for a contract, will not receive an offer from the team.
Though in his case, it’s an obscure clause in the CBA that allows the team to maintain his rights until 2025 since the goaltending prospect signed a contract with the Laval Rocket at just 19 years old. Vrebetic’s agent cleared up the issue with Canadiens management earlier this week.
Given how few goaltenders now remain in the organization, adding a player like Quebec Remparts goaltender William Rousseau to the organizational prospect pool has become a much more enticing idea.
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I’m surprised and disappointed we aren’t keeping Dichow. Maybe that is a sign of something else going down at the draft? Will we be completing a trade that involves a goalie coming back? Will be be drafting one or more goalies? The Dichow decision is disappointing, but it has me intrigued…
Too much thinking on a guy that probably wouldn’t have been a starter on the habs. Also time to trade Allen and play Monty and Primeau.
Playing Primeau more this year would definitely help get us a better draft pick in the 2024 Draft. 😁
He’s better than you think. Plus, I’m not in tank mode with no Bedard in the mix and no faith habs woulf finish last. Habs were in a playoff hunt until mid season. It’s not unbelievable that they can do better with a healthy roster.
I agree we are a far better team than we’ve seen the past 2 years due to all the injuries, but we’ll have to disagree on the potential of Primeau. I used to drink that Kool-Aid a few years ago, but not anymore. I don’t think he’s got a future as a good NHL goalie. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him traded in a package this summer so we don’t lose him for nothing on waivers. I’d prefer to see Allen traded, but I think HuGo value his leadership and willingness to put a rebuilding team plan ahead of his personal career stats. I think they’ll be loyal to him and he’ll be back at least until the trade deadline next season.
He will be an excellent cheap backup at worst.
Playing Devil’s advocate here. What would it take to ice a team that might actually win a first round series? I think a top pair right Dman and a healthy Monahan or Dubois would get us close. Assuming the young D steps up a notch and we are able to rationalize our forwards somewhat. Of course, we don’t want to sabotage our future either, but I could see us being pretty competitive ( if we stay healthy).
they have to have something big in the wind as we can not afford to ditch young prospect goaltenders
You only need a solid starter and backup and a solid goalie prospect in Laval or soon to be on Laval. Teams have also won without a big name goalie. And goaltending has the least amount of spaces on a team roster.