The Oilers are shopping for goaltending, and Samuel Montembeault is on their radar. They're not the only team calling, though.
Maxime Truman reported the interest. By his information, Edmonton has significant interest in the Montreal netminder.
He added the important context, too. The Oilers aren't the only club that's called the Canadiens about Montembeault, and he isn't the only goalie on Edmonton's radar.
But there's a clear path here, per Truman. The interest is real, even if the situation is early and fluid.
That alone tells you something. A team going goalie shopping is a team that sees the crease as a problem to solve this summer.
Truman's report is the credible anchor in all of this.
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Then came the analysis layer from the fan side. The account The Mug NHL called it a good start for Edmonton, pointing to Montembeault's solid overall body of work despite a tougher recent season.
The same post floated a scenario, suggesting that if Edmonton could move Tristan Jarry for someone else and add Montembeault, the goaltending questions would be answered. That part is speculation, not reporting.
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The market for Montembeault is already crowded
Here's the catch Truman flagged. Edmonton isn't alone. Multiple teams have called Montreal, and competition like that tends to drive the price up in a hurry.
Montembeault also isn't the only name on Edmonton's list. The Oilers are casting a wide net in the crease, so this is one path among several they're exploring.
The stakes explain the urgency. Edmonton is built to win now around Connor McDavid, and reliable goaltending has been the piece that keeps coming up in the postseason.
It also ties into the bigger summer picture. Clearing money, the way the Darnell Nurse situation could, is part of how the Oilers create room to add a goalie at all.
Here's my read: Edmonton clearly knows the crease is the question, and chasing a proven goalie like Montembeault is a sensible swing. The intent is right.
But with several suitors and several targets in play, this is early days, not a done deal. The need is real. The solution isn't locked in.
Land a goalie this summer and the Oilers remove the biggest question mark sitting next to McDavid. That's the prize.
Whether it ends up being Montembeault or someone else, the message from Truman's reporting is clear. The crease is the priority, and the hunt is officially on.
Should the Oilers go all-in to land Montembeault this summer?
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