The NHL’s offseason always brings a whirlwind of contracts, trades, and surprising moves that keep fans glued to every headline.

This week, the Chicago Blackhawks turned heads with a bold decision regarding their goaltending future, sparking intense debate across the hockey world.

While much of the attention has centered on a young netminder’s new deal, a deeper look reveals a fascinating story that stretches far beyond the Windy City.

As numbers and salary figures begin to circulate, a striking comparison emerges—one that could have major implications for both Chicago and Montreal in the seasons to come.

Behind the scenes, executives and analysts are quietly dissecting the real impact of these moves, searching for hidden advantages and potential pitfalls.

The spotlight, however, doesn’t just shine on the newly extended goalie; it also casts a revealing light on another player whose value may be even more impressive than anyone realized.

Are fans and insiders overlooking a true masterstroke pulled off by Montreal’s management? Could one contract prove to be the ultimate bargain, reshaping how teams approach their goaltending strategies in the future?

With speculation mounting and opinions divided, there’s much more to this story than meets the eye. The details, when uncovered, might just change the way you see the Canadiens’ roster—and the entire goaltending market.

Photo of Canadiens and Hawks

Photo credit: HabsFanatics/NHL

In recent days, the Chicago Blackhawks have given a new contract to goaltender Spencer Knight.

We’re talking here about a contract extension for the young goalie.

Acquired from the Florida Panthers in return for Seth Jones at the trade deadline last March, the 2019 first-round pick had a revival last year and posted rather interesting numbers in 15 games with Chicago.

But it’s on the salary side that it gets interesting, because the young 24-year-old goalie will earn $5.83 million starting in the 2026-2027 season.

Given his performance at the end of the season with the Blackhawks and the importance he will have within the team in the coming years, we now have proof that Samuel Montembeault is a true bargain.

Analysis of the signing announced earlier by the Chicago Blackhawks: another good move by Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens is confirmed with the signing of Samuel Montembeault

The Montreal Canadiens goaltender earns an annual salary of $3.15 million until the end of the 2026-2027 season.

Wow!

According to what the DLC site mentions, we don’t realize just how much Kent Hughes pulled off a real economic masterstroke when it comes to comparing Spencer Knight’s numbers.

“It should be remembered, however, that last year in Chicago, Knight posted a goals-against average of 3.12 and a save percentage of .896.

We know he didn’t have a strong team in front of him, and the Blackhawks are banking on his (great) potential, but that contract mainly shows just how much of a bargain Montembeault is in Montreal.”

– DansLesCoulisses

It must be said, however, that Montembeault’s contract, signed in 2023, took into account the fact that he was not officially the Canadiens’ number one goalie at that time.

We remember the famous three-goalie situation with Jake Allen and Cayden Primeau, which monopolized the attention of Canadiens fans.

With Jakub Dobes now in the picture, there’s no doubt Monty is the number one goalie in Montreal, and at $3.15 million, he represents one of the best bargains in the NHL.