In the fast-paced world of professional hockey, every save, every goal, and every loss is magnified—not just on the ice, but in the relentless glare of the digital spotlight. For Montreal Canadiens goalie Samuel Montembeault, the pressure of performing at the highest level has always come with its own set of challenges. But in today’s era of instant communication and unfiltered feedback, those challenges have taken on a new and deeply personal dimension.

Montembeault, a name that has become synonymous with resilience in the Canadiens’ crease, now finds himself at the center of a storm that few athletes are truly prepared for. It’s not just the roar of the crowd or the scrutiny of analysts that he faces; it’s the unending barrage of comments, opinions, and criticisms that flood his social media accounts after every game. Whether he’s coming off a heroic win or a tough loss, the responses are swift, emotional, and often brutally honest.

This season, the stakes feel higher than ever. With the Canadiens fighting to reclaim their status as playoff contenders, every performance is dissected, debated, and discussed by thousands of fans—many of whom see social media as their direct line to the team’s stars. For Montembeault, this connection has been both a blessing and a curse. While support from loyal followers can be uplifting, the darker side of fan interaction has become impossible to ignore.

After a string of games that left some fans frustrated, the tone of online commentary shifted dramatically. What began as passionate feedback soon turned into a flood of negativity, with some voices crossing the line from criticism to outright hostility. The goalie’s Instagram, once a place for sharing moments on and off the ice, became a battleground of opinions, some of them far harsher than any shot he’s faced in net.

Faced with this wave of anger and disappointment, Montembeault made a decision that few athletes announce publicly—but one that speaks volumes about the pressures of modern sports. In a candid moment, he revealed that he had deleted his Instagram account, choosing to step away from the noise and focus solely on his game. “Especially on social media, you gotta put that behind,” he admitted, hinting at the toll that constant scrutiny can take. “Many things that are said aren’t nice on there. You just gotta take all the noise and put it behind. Just trying to focus on me, focus on my game and not listen to what everybody has to say.”

This isn’t an isolated incident. Across the league, other stars—from Brady Tkachuk to Mitch Marner—have spoken out about their own struggles with angry fans online. The digital age has given supporters unprecedented access to their heroes, but it’s also exposed the vulnerabilities of athletes in ways that were unimaginable just a decade ago.

As Montembeault continues to hold the starting job in Montreal, his journey raises important questions about fan culture, mental health, and the realities of life in the NHL. What led to his decision? How are other players coping? And what does this mean for the Canadiens moving forward? The story behind his social media exit is more complex—and more revealing—than it first appears.

Read on as we delve into the details, exploring the impact of digital criticism and what it means for the future of hockey’s brightest stars.

Canadiens goalie Samuel Montembeault

Photo credit: Sportsnet

Montreal Canadiens goalie Samuel Montembeault has gotten off of social media after a sea of angry comments from fans.

In this day and age of social media that allows fans extremely quick access to their athletes, some fans clearly take things too far.

Canadiens goaltender Samuel Montembeault has decided to get off social media after the constant negative comments he would receive.

Especially on social media, you gotta put that behind. I deleted my Instagram cause obviously after a loss, you can’t go on it. Many things that are said aren’t nice on there. You just gotta take all the noise and put it behind. Just trying to focus on me, focus on my game and not listen to what everybody has to say.»

Good games or bad games, people are always gonna have something to say. I just wanna focus on myself.

Multiple players have said they’ve experienced issues with angry fans on social media, from Brady Tkachuk to Mitch Marner.

Samuel Montembeault Still Holding The Starting Job In Montreal

Montembeault was taken with the 77th overall pick by the Florida Panthers in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, though he would mostly played with the AHL affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds.

He would then be placed on waivers by the Panthers and then claimed by the Canadiens the same day.

Right now, he’s in the middle of a three year contract with an AAV (average annual value) of $3,150,000.

Last year, he helped lead the Canadiens to the postseason for the first time since their surprise run to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final.

Right now, his numbers aren’t what he’d like at just 4-4-1 with a .861 SV%. Rookie Jakub Dobes’ superior play is clearly causing a rift among fans.