Casey DeSmith - What's going on with him?

[Bubba55]

He's gone from the back up in Pittsburg to .... what?? I may have this wrong, but I thought I read that right after the trade to the Habs Kent Hughes had told DeSmith that he would do all he could to find him another home more to his liking and benefit. Yet, nothing has happened. Dobber has him playing 8 games and likely headed for the A to start the season. What is going on with this guy?

[tweetdrivr]

No news from the Habs regulars or Montreal Gazzette. I’d expect more as people come out of the August lull and get back to work here.

[metaldude26]

He was pretty bad last year and makes just enough that a team probably doesn't want to carry him because of the tight salary cap environment. Currently the odd man out in Montreal but there will be injuries and opportunities.

You also wonder if as other teams experience injuries when training camp starts if DeSmith doesn't become viable somewhere else.

Basically a writeoff for me where he is now.

[2014olympicgold]

https://ca.style.yahoo.com/canadiens...190627559.html

"the goal isn't to bury you in the AHL"

They'll likely run 3goalies, and end up sending Montemblow down to the AHL to continue to showcase DeSmith.

[rataylor22]

DeSmith is somewhere between the 49-80 best goalie in the league. A fringe 2/3, definitely not a solid 2. Having a nebulous NHL future is about right for his talent level.

[tweetdrivr]

https://ca.style.yahoo.com/canadiens...190627559.html

"the goal isn't to bury you in the AHL"

They'll likely run 3goalies, and end up sending Montemblow down to the AHL to continue to showcase DeSmith.

At $1 mil per at age 23 Monty would be claimed almost undoubtedly. I don’t see them sending him down.

[2014olympicgold]

At $1 mil per at age 23 Monty would be claimed almost undoubtedly. I don’t see them sending him down.

Montembault is 26yrs old who has a 3.58GAA and 0.897s% over his last 78gp.

I dunno. The only team I can see wanting another goalie is Chicago (23/23NHL roster spots) and that might not happen.

And honestly...I rather DeSmith than Montembault. And if you are worried about Montembault being claimed....*shrug*.

But I would think they do 3 goalies for a month or two, and see who floats out of the 2, and my guess is that Mont doesn't.

[Bubba55]

At $1 mil per at age 23 Monty would be claimed almost undoubtedly. I don’t see them sending him down.

This was what I was thinking. The fact that Allen is making 3 Mil more than DeSmith and is signed for the next two years not just one just doesn't seem to bode well for DeSmith???

[Axeman33]

At $1 mil per at age 23 Monty would be claimed almost undoubtedly. I don’t see them sending him down.

I agree. He played really well at the Worlds this summer too. There's some upside there.

[tweetdrivr]

The NHL has recency bias like you read about. Monty was just great for Canada at the World Championships…and he’s only 23. I don’t they’ll waive him.

[rataylor22]

The NHL has recency bias like you read about. Monty was just great for Canada at the World Championships…and he’s only 23. I don’t they’ll waive him.

I have no idea who you're referring to here because the Canadiens do not have a single goalie in their system who is 23 and Samuel Montembeault is 26.

[tweetdrivr]

I have no idea who you're referring to here because the Canadiens do not have a single goalie in their system who is 23 and Samuel Montembeault is 26.

Isn’t Price 23?

You’re correct. I misread cap friendly. Monty is 26 and as such will definitely be waived.

[ross10019]

My take is a tad different.

If you're the Avs, you probably want Jake Allen. Terrific guy in the locker room, capable and proven backup and can become starter in a pinch in case of injury (though he's far less able than he used to to have a big workload). Problem is the $3.8m AAV for 2 more years, so Habs would have to eat at least half to make it work or to take on salary through the trade.

DeSmith's father is a huuuuge Habs fan, so if he had his choice I'll bet he'd love to stay in Montreal. At half the salary of Allen, I think the Habs would be just fine to him as the backup to Montembeault.

I think the jury is still out on Montembeault becoming the legit go-to guy for the Habs. He's definitely raised his stock with his performance last year (which incidentally caused the Habs to miss out on the 3rd or 4th spot in the draft!) and the WCs - in January alone he put up a 0.915 Sv% and stole 4 of 10 games, and looked great. But the jury's still out. He's the right age for sure and he's like 6'3. But something tells me Hughes is looking at something else for the future - maybe a guy like Hart or at some point even an older vet (in a couple of years when the contention window finally re-opens). Until then I think they go with Montembeault, very little downside.

[tweetdrivr]

Yeah I don’t think they see Monty as a long term solution. He’s perfect for where they are right now. Just ok and cheap. But I also think he would be claimed if he were waived so that probably won’t happen. I would expect one of these 4 goalies to be gone before camp opens.

[stevegamer]

The Canadiens have a good problem and a bad problem.

Good: They have 2 cheap goalies who seem like reasonable NHL backups and another guy who is a reasonable NHL backup.

Bad: Nobody who is certainly better than a backup, and nobody who is really young enough to expect to develop into a starter among the three of them.

Montreal's goal should be to trade one of them to a team for something. If you've got put somebody on waivers, it should be Allen. He can be a good locker room guy in the AHL or on another team.

My personal nickname for Jake Allen is "the Mistake" as in signing him longer term, or counting on him to be a starter. We've heard the Montemblow nickname as well.