{"id":602218,"date":"2026-06-19T08:57:12","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T08:57:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/602218\/"},"modified":"2026-06-19T08:57:12","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T08:57:12","slug":"canadiens-notes-montembeault-dach-paupanekis-kostenko-pro-hockey-rumors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/602218\/","title":{"rendered":"Canadiens Notes: Montembeault, Dach, Paupanekis, Kostenko \u2013 Pro Hockey Rumors"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n By Brian La Rose<\/a> |
\n at June 18, 2026 7:53 pm <\/p>\n

After only playing in two games after the trade deadline while being the third-string goalie after that, it looked as if Canadiens goaltender Samuel Montembeault<\/a> would likely be moving on this summer.\u00a0 With one season left on his contract with a $3.15MM AAV, there could have been a small market for him on the trade front as a low-cost flyer.\u00a0 However, that may not be the outcome after all.\u00a0 The Athletic\u2019s Arpon Basu reports (subscription link<\/a>) that there is a willingness on the organization\u2019s part to hold onto the 29-year-old this offseason.\u00a0 Doing so would allow top prospect Jacob Fowler<\/a> more time to play in the minors which might be best for his development at this point.\u00a0 Montembeault posted a 3.43 GAA and a .873 SV% in 25 games this season but had a save percentage just above .900 in each of the previous years.\u00a0 If they\u2019re considering keeping the veteran, it suggests that the team feels he could bounce back next season.<\/p>\n

More from Montreal:<\/p>\n

Also from Basu\u2019s piece, he noted that talks have not started yet with pending restricted free agent Kirby Dach<\/a>. The 25-year-old is coming off another injury-riddled year, one that saw him limited to just 37 games where he had eight goals and seven assists.\u00a0 Dach will be owed a $4MM qualifying offer by June 29th, one that carries arbitration eligibility.\u00a0 His performance may not warrant that but Basu notes that the team isn\u2019t opposed to giving it to him if his situation isn\u2019t resolved by then.
\nOne of Montreal\u2019s draft picks from last year will have a new team next season. Earlier this week, Hayden Paupanekis<\/a> announced on his Instagram<\/a> page that he has committed to play at St. Cloud State.\u00a0 The center was the 69th pick last year and spent the season with WHL Kelowna where he had 37 points in 57 games.\u00a0 The Rockets were the host at the Memorial Cup but he didn\u2019t record a point in three appearances.\u00a0 With the transfer, his signing timeline will be extended instead of expiring next June had he stayed in junior.
\nProspect defenseman Dmitri Kostenko<\/a> is also on the move. KHL Spartak announced<\/a> that they\u2019ve traded the defenseman\u2019s rights to Amur Khabarovsk.\u00a0 The 23-year-old was a third-round pick by Montreal back in 2021, going 87th overall.\u00a0 He has yet to play in North America and spent this season playing in Slovakia\u2019s top level, picking up 18 points in 29 games with HK Nitra.\u00a0 Kostenko does have some KHL experience in the past, having spent 52 games with Kunlun back in 2022-23.<\/p>\n