The red goal light flashes behind Samuel Montembeault, casting a harsh glow across the ice as frustrated fans in the Bell Centre rise to their feet. In the shadows just beyond the crease, Canadiens goaltending coach Éric Raymond stands with arms folded, his expression unreadable as another puck finds its way past Montreal’s netminders. The tension in the arena is palpable, the air thick with doubt and disappointment—a scene that has become all too familiar in recent weeks.

Last Thursday, a single comment on BPM Sports ignited a firestorm of criticism, sending shockwaves through the Canadiens’ faithful. David Ettedgui, respected for his candid insights, didn’t mince words: “With all the respect I have for Éric, I think he didn’t do his job.” The statement, sharp as a slapshot, echoed through social media and sports talk radio, putting Raymond squarely in the crosshairs of a fanbase desperate for answers.

Suddenly, Éric Raymond’s name is everywhere—whispered in the corridors of the Bell Centre, debated in group chats, and dissected on every sports platform in Montreal. The message is clear and unforgiving: when the numbers collapse, someone has to pay. For the Canadiens, whose goaltending has faltered alarmingly this season, Raymond’s future is now a topic of fierce speculation.

Pressure mounts as the team’s struggles between the pipes become impossible to ignore. Montembeault, once a beacon of hope, is fighting through a season where his stats have plummeted compared to last year. Jakub Dobes, the promising 24-year-old, flashes moments of brilliance but is plagued by inconsistency—a trait that is becoming all too common among Montreal’s goalies. The stands buzz with discontent: when your 29-year-old netminder slips and the young backup can’t find his rhythm, the goaltending coach is the first to face the music.

Insiders like DLC and Habs Nation have joined the chorus, calling for Raymond’s dismissal as the only way to “revive Montembeault” and give the position a fresh start. “Habs goaltender coach Eric Raymond is definitely on the hot seat,” Habs Nation posted, highlighting his inability to help Dobes and Montembeault resolve their poor play and positioning. The suggestion is clear—something fundamental needs to change, and the off-season may bring a reckoning.

Raymond’s journey with the Canadiens began on July 30, 2021, when he was hired under then-GM Marc Bergevin. Since then, he has weathered the ups and downs of a team in transition, but never before has the scrutiny been so intense. The numbers tell a story of decline and frustration, and as the losses mount, patience is wearing thin.

Yet, beneath the surface, bigger questions swirl. Is Raymond truly to blame for the goaltending woes, or is he a scapegoat for a deeper problem within the organization? Will management bow to public pressure and make a dramatic move, or will the numbers rebound in time to save his job? As the Canadiens’ season teeters on the edge, the fate of Éric Raymond hangs in the balance—a mystery that fans and analysts alike are desperate to unravel.

For now, the spotlight burns brightest in front of the net, where every save and every goal carries the weight of a franchise’s hopes and the future of a coach who may soon be out of time.

Photo of Canadiens goalie coach Éric Raymond

Photo credit: RDS

Things are heating up in front of the Canadiens’ net, and Éric Raymond finds himself at the center of the debate.

Last Thursday, a comment made on BPM Sports sparked reactions. David Ettedgui spoke about a firing, linking it to the goaltenders’ stats.

“With all the respect I have for Éric, I think he didn’t do his job.” – David Ettedgui

In that climate, Habs goalie coach Raymond’s name is quickly circulating within the club’s orbit. The message is simple: when the numbers collapse, someone eventually pays.

Éric Raymond Under Pressure in Montreal

“David Ettedgui is part of the group of people who want to see him leave, as well. He spoke about it on BPM Sports earlier today: the only way to revive Montembeault is to fire Raymond and give him a ‘fresh start.’”

– DLC

“Habs goaltender coach Eric Raymond is definitely on the hot seat. He hasn’t been able to help Dobes and Montembault resolve their poor play/positioning in nets. Something to reevaluate in the off-season” – Habs Nation

The problem is that Montembeault does not have the same numbers as in 2024-2025, and it can be said that he is having a difficult season.

For his part, Jakub Dobes has had his ups and downs, but his lack of consistency is worrying.

When your 29-year-old goaltender slips, the discussion quickly rises in the stands. And when the 24-year-old slows down, the goaltending coach becomes an easy target.

Raymond was hired on July 30, 2021, as the team’s goaltending coach under Marc Bergevin.

It remains to be seen whether management will make a move, or if the numbers eventually bounce back.