The Florida Panthers aren’t getting any younger at the goaltender position and eventually need to replace Roberto Luongo. The perfect replacement for Luongo? Prospect Samuel Montembeault.
For seasons now, the Florida Panthers have had their answer at goalie with Roberto Luongo. While Luongo is clearly the Panthers’ best option right now after having an amazing season last year (2.47 GAA, .929 save percentage), it’s worth recognizing that he’s 39 going onto 40 very soon. Eventually, father-time will catch up to Luongo and the need to replace the Panthers’ legend will come.
While the Panthers may not have the next Luongo in the wings, the team does have a future goalie capable of holding their own in rising-star Samuel Montembeault. At just 21-years-old, Montembeault showed promise but also struggles playing primarily as the starter for the Springfield Thunderbirds. In 41 games played, Montembeault finished with a 13-23-3 record, allowing 3.25 goals per game (a career-high) and saving .896% of shots (a career-low).
The struggles of Montembeault may not have been all on him, though. Springfield struggled all year on defense and was one of the weakest team on the backline in terms of talent. Besides, it’s hard to deny Montembeault’s talent in previous years. In his last QMJHL season for the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, Montembeault finished with an impressive stat line: 41 games played, 2.40 GAA (goals against average) and .907 save percentage.
Before being drafted in the third-round, Montembeault drew raving reviews among many scouts and draft pundits. As The Hockey News put it:
"“[Samuel Montembeault] Has the requisite projectable frame that most NHL scouts now look for from the goaltending position, plus the ‘cool-as-a-cucumber’ demeanor that is preferred for the crease area. Also displays excellent agility and athleticism. His glove hand also sticks out as a major strength.”"
Frankly, the frame might be Montembeault’s best trait. At 6’3″ 192 pounds, Montembeault has a similar frame to Roberto Luongo (6’3″ 217 pounds), as well as Tuukka Rask (6’3″ 176 pounds). The wide range in actual height-weight combo is telling of how much goalies can vary but the Panthers may want Montembeault to add some more to the frame and fill out the body, getting closer to Luongo and not Rask.
While all the hypothetical is great, when the Panthers bring up Montembeault to the NHL roster, it will be telling on how his development has gone. At 21 years of age, Montembeault still has plenty of time to develop into something, but the Panthers’ signing of Harri Sateri (28-years-old) may have been a telling sign of their trust in Montembeault.
Last season, Sateri played 29 games in the AHL before receiving a call up to the NHL roster after injuries to Luongo and James Reimer. Sateri being the first to being called upon is telling of the organization’s trust in Montembeault at this current moment. Had the team trusted Montembeault to produce at anywhere near NHL level, it would’ve been smart to call him up over Sateri.
Next: What Role will Harri Sateri Play Next Season?
Regardless, Sateri is likely not the future at goalie, unless Luongo retires sooner than maybe expected. While goalies are known to develop later than skaters, it seems smarter to focus development on Montembeault and let Sateri play himself out.