Canadiens Head Coach Martin St. Louis Makes Clear Statement on the Team’s Starting Goalie


PUBLICATION

Tom Banks
November 6, 2025  (2:21 PM)

Jakub Dobes of the Montreal Canadiens.

Photo credit: Elite Prospects

The Montreal Canadiens have a goaltending issue on their hands, and now, in a matchup against a top contender, they turn to rookie Jakub Dobes.

The Montreal Canadiens have one of the most exciting young teams in the NHL, and in 2025/26 they’re off to a red-hot start, going 9-3-1 through their first 13 games as they sit in first place in the Atlantic Division.

That’s a far cry from a team that was rebuilding just two years ago, but with great drafting, fantastic trades and good development, this is a team that’s quickly risen to become a top contender in the Eastern Conference.

Canadiens Turn To Jakub Dobes In Big Showdown

However, there’s one major decision the team need to make, and that’s with their starting goaltending, with Jakub Dobes outplaying starter Samuel Montembeault early in the new campaign.For now, Martin St. Louis has stuck with Montembeault, but with a showdown against the New Jersey Devils upcoming, he’s made a major decision to turn to the rookie for the battle between two of the Eastern Conference’s best teams.

While this doesn’t mean Dobes will be the No. 1 moving forward, to choose the rookie in a matchup against the red-hot Devils certainly sends a message that Dobes’ time as the starter may be closer than some expected.

In six starts this season, Dobes has tallied a 1.97 GAA and a .930 save percentage as he’s taken his game to a new level after showing promise a year ago, showing that he’s clearly the future of this organization, and if he thrives against New Jersey, St. Louis may have no choice but to make him the present starter as well.

Previously on House Of Hockey

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Canadiens Head Coach Martin St. Louis Makes Clear Statement on the Team’s Starting Goalie

Should Dobes be the full-time starter moving forward?