Samuel Montembeault wears one of hockey’s highest-pressure jobs lightly.
Rather than cracking under the expectations of backstopping the Montreal Canadiens — a franchise with a long line of Quebec goaltending legends — he rarely loses his grin.
“I’m just enjoying life,” said the 28-year-old netminder. “I always have a smile on my face every day.”
It’s not unusual to hear Montembeault laughing in the dressing room, where teammates have nicknamed him “Snacks” for his constant munching.
He happily poses for photos with fans after each practice at CN Sports Complex, and patiently fields questions in both official languages from the daily crowd of reporters in Montreal, often back-to-back and in quick succession.
“There’s not much that bothers me. I can’t get mad at anything,” he said this week at the Canadiens’ practice facility. “I’m just really easy going.”
Four years ago, standing in the Canadiens†crease probably seemed unlikely. The Florida Panthers placed him on waivers Oct. 1, 2021, and Montembeault — his NHL career 25 games young at the time — appeared headed back to the minors.
Claimed by the Canadiens the next day, he has steadily grown between the pipes, improving each year and earning a spot on Canada’s roster at last February’s 4 Nations Face-Off.
Montembeault looks like he’s in a good place, simply enjoying the responsibilities of his big role and life in the NHL — although he does admit to some pre-game jitters.
“Sometimes it’s tough with all the pressure, and every game I’m pretty super nervous, you never know how the game is going to go,” he said. “But I think I do a pretty good job at managing that stress, and I do a lot of breathing on game days, especially just before the game. I think it helps me to stay in the present moment.”
Montembeault’s positive attitude and level-headedness, head coach Martin St. Louis says, are a big part of the reason why he’s grown into a bona fide NHL starter.
“At that position, especially in this market, too, you have to be in a good place mentally,” St. Louis said. “I feel like Monty is pretty even-keeled. There’s times that he’s not at his best, but I feel like he stays pretty even-keeled and just focuses on the next game and what’s next, same thing if he’s playing well.
“Probably the hardest part as a goaltender, such a hard position to play, is to stay sane no matter what, which is easier said than done.”
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Last season, Montembeault posted a career-best 31 wins with a .902 save percentage and a 2.80 goals-against average in 62 games.
According to analytics website MoneyPuck.com, the six-foot-three netminder ranked fifth in the league in goals saved above expected, measuring the number of goals prevented compared to a league-average goalie.
Montembeault was off to a solid start in the playoffs before exiting Game 3 of the first round against Washington with a groin injury.
Though disappointed, he recalls soaking in the scene from the Bell Centre press box as fans waved white towels and the building erupted before Game 4.
“Really crazy,” he said. “The atmosphere here is so much fun.”
Growing up in Becancour, Que., a small town across the St. Lawrence River from Trois-Rivières, Montembeault could only dream of someday becoming a focal point for the Canadiens.
He credits his parents for instilling in him a lightheartedness and humility. A fun fact, he adds, is that he’s the only member of his family who knows how to skate.
Montembeault has purchased a house in Trois-Rivières to be close to his and his wifeâ€s family, a move he said some doubters quipped was perfect because he could suit up for the cityâ€s third-tier ECHL team.
Skeptics proven wrong, Montembeault has his eyes on representing Canada at February’s 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. He was the third goalie behind Jordan Binnington and Adin Hill at the 4 Nations tournament and appears to have a leg up after only the same three goalies were invited to this summerâ€s Olympic orientation camp.
For now, however, Montembeault is focused on a strong start with the Canadiens, who begin the regular season Oct. 8 in Toronto.
“It would be a dream to represent the country on the biggest stage in hockey … it’s in the back of my mind, but I try not to think about it too much,†he said of the Olympics. “Me and the team need to have a good start of the season to give me a chance, so I’m just trying to focus on that.”
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