Posts About "Al Montoya"
Niemi Gets Job Done as Price’s Backup
November 7th, 2018 The saying goes, “if you want to win, hire a Finn.” On a team with a handful of them headlining up front, it’s ironically Montreal Canadiens backup Antti Niemi who is actually in a position to post those victories. More importantly, he’s actually been doing it regularly, which is no small feat, considering he plays...
Oilers Sign Koskinen, Montoya & Brossoit in Limbo
May 2nd, 2018 It's official -- the Edmonton Oilers have signed Mikko Koskinen to be Cam Talbot's backup next season. As speculated a few weeks ago, the 29-year-old signed a deal with a cap hit of $2.5 million, but it's a one-year deal, not two as previously rumored. Moneywise, $2 million is salary, while $500,000 is a signing bonus. Koskinen's an...
Oilers Goaltending Depth Chart for 2018-19
April 25th, 2018 The recent rumors around the Edmonton Oilers potentially signing Mikko Koskinen brings forward some interesting questions about the goaltending depth chart heading into 2018-19. Edmonton currently has six goalies in the system signed to pro contracts for next season. If they sign Koskinen, and last year's third-round pick (Stuart...
2018-19 Oilers: Piecing Together Roster
April 22nd, 2018 The Edmonton Oilers could return a full roster for next season. That won’t happen, not after the disappointment that was the 2017-18 campaign. So while there are enough players under contract for 2018-19 to ice an entire team, there will surely be some changes and some new faces in Edmonton’s opening-night lineup. As of now,...
The Oilers' Maniacal Mismanagement of Montoya
March 22nd, 2018 Let me begin by making this abundantly clear: I have nothing against Al Montoya. Throughout his nine-year NHL career to date, Montoya has been a solid goaltender. In fact, he's played to a 2.66 goals against average (GAA) and a .906 save percentage (SV%) through his 167 regular season games played to date. What's more is that in those...
Al Montoya and the Conditional Draft Pick
March 16th, 2018 The Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens made a deal on Jan. 4 that sent back up goaltender Al Montoya to the Alberta capital. The return for the Habs was a conditional fourth-round draft pick in 2018. What is the condition tied to the pick and how can Edmonton avoid triggering it? Al Montoya in Oilers Orange The Canadiens will...
Is Cam Talbot the Long-Term Answer for Oilers?
March 12th, 2018 It's nonsense to think some people are suggesting the Edmonton Oilers should trade Cam Talbot. It was just one year ago that Talbot was the second-most valuable player in Edmonton's lineup behind Connor McDavid. He also finished fourth in Vezina Trophy voting and set an Oilers record for most wins in a season. If you're looking for a...
Montreal Canadiens Trade Al Montoya to Edmonton Oilers
January 4th, 2018 The Montreal Canadiens have traded goaltender Al Montoya to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a conditional fourth-round draft pick in 2018, the Habs announced Thursday night. The condition of the pick states that the Canadiens will receive a fourth-round pick from the Oilers if Montoya plays in at least seven regular-season contests...
Canadiens Should Rest Gallagher to Be Safe
November 17th, 2017 Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher has little left to prove, fresh off a nasty hit to the head. The team should take the opportunity to rest him as a result. They have little left that they can prove at this point, in what is shaping up to be a lost...
Who Should Back Up Carey Price?
September 28th, 2017 For a team with a number of question marks on defense and uncertainty at center, the Canadiens have a lot of depth in goal. In addition to Carey Price and Al Montoya, Michael McNiven was the OHL goaltender of the year last season. Zachary Fucale will battle McNiven for the backup role in Laval. King Carey This year, the Canadiens...
Montoya Injury Forces Habs to Play Price
March 28th, 2017 There are definitely worse things in the world than having your No.1 goalie healthy and ready to play as the regular season winds down, with playoff positioning on the line. Namely having your No. 1 goalie healthy and ready to play under those same circumstances, but deciding to go with your back-up instead. Thankfully for the...
Recap: Talbot Nets Shutout Shootout Win over Habs
February 5th, 2017 When the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens last met in Montreal on Super Bowl weekend last year, it was a vastly different result. The home side prevailed in a 5-1 goal-filled affair then. Not only did the Habs fall short this time around, but they didn’t even manage a single tally on Sunday. Technically neither did the Oilers...
Preview: Jets Look to Start a Streak Against Canadiens
January 11th, 2017 The Winnipeg Jets are coming off one of their best games of the season as they get ready to battle their second straight Canadian team, the Montreal Canadiens. Connor Hellebuyck will make his sixth straight start after a 28-save shutout on Monday. http://gty.im/469855410 The Canadiens will be looking to get back into the win column...
