Few stories in hockey are as quietly dramatic as the one that almost changed the fate of the Montreal Canadiens—and the career of Samuel Montembeault—forever.

Recently, a little-known interview surfaced, shedding light on a moment that nearly slipped under the radar, but could have sent shockwaves through the NHL.

Behind the scenes, as the Canadiens were searching for answers in net, another team was quietly plotting a move that could have rewritten the story of both franchises.

The Utah Mammoth, then known as the Arizona Coyotes, were on the verge of claiming Montembeault off waivers, just before Montreal made their move.

How close did the Canadiens come to losing their future starting goalie? What conversations took place in the shadows, and who was the mastermind behind this near-miss?

As details emerge from those involved—coaches, scouts, and insiders—the true gravity of the decision becomes clear.

This is more than a story about a player changing teams; it’s a tale of timing, luck, and split-second decisions that shape the destiny of organizations.

The full account reveals just how fragile the line can be between triumph and what-might-have-been.

Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

We’ve just learned an interesting piece of news about Montreal Canadiens goaltender Samuel Montembeault, via Marco Normandin of HABSolumentFan.

In a little-known interview on a local community TV show called Les Amis de Télé-Coeur, the always-excellent André Tourigny revealed that Montembeault was nearly claimed by what is now the Utah Mammoth, back when they were still the Arizona Coyotes, before being scooped up on waivers by the Canadiens.

Wow.

André Tourigny reveals that the Utah Mammoth (formerly the Arizona Coyotes) were about to claim Samuel Montembeault off waivers

It’s a pretty fascinating little behind-the-scenes story. André Tourigny has revealed that Samuel Montembeault almost ended up in Arizona.

Here’s the exact quote from Tourigny, as reported by Marco:

“I was following it closely back then with the Estacades and later with the Armada, his draft to Florida.. When he was put on waivers, we were interested, but the Canadiens picked him up.”

– André Tourigny

It’s safe to say that was an excellent decision by the Canadiens. Here’s the video clip:

Samuel Montembeault, age 28, stands 6’3″ and weighs 218 pounds. He played in 62 games for the Canadiens last season, posting:

A 31-24-7 record

2.80 goals-against average

.902 save percentage

More details to follow – but it’s safe to say: the Habs made the right call.