Hellebuyck trade pressure and Andersen absence could reshape the goalie market around Montreal

The goalie market is starting to feel louder, and Montreal is potentially in the blast radius. A day after the Edmonton Oilers announced that Frederik Andersen would be missing training camp, Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck publicly reiterated his trade request, adding pressure to a market that can move quickly once teams decide what they want at the position.

In the Jets’ case, the central complication is that Hellebuyck’s availability is no longer a theoretical storyline. The reporting indicates he has come out publicly to reiterate his trade request, a move that effectively indicates to other teams that Winnipeg may eventually need to address the situation rather than try to wait it out.

That matters for the Canadiens because, according to the same reporting, whatever happens with Hellebuyck can influence how teams handle the rest of the goalie pipeline around the league. In early July, the Canadiens’ possible interest in Samuel Montembeault was framed as a “backup plan” if a resolution involving a top-tier target did not materialize. With the market beginning to heat up again, the path for a Montreal move becomes easier to visualize, even if it remains uncertain.

The Canadiens connection is also tied to timing. Training camp and the early part of the regular-season runway tend to compress decision-making, especially when teams are trying to establish clear roles at the position. While it is not confirmed that Montreal is actively pursuing any specific trade, the reporting suggests the Canadiens may be monitoring how the dominoes fall, particularly if a team chasing a lead option finds the market more complicated than expected.

Edmonton’s situation adds another layer. The Oilers have already disclosed that Andersen will be missing training camp, which can affect internal planning and how quickly management evaluates alternatives if it looks like the team’s near-term preparation needs adjustment. When a club makes a clear early-camp statement like that, it can also change what other teams are willing to do with the assets they control.

For Winnipeg, the Hellebuyck trade request is the most direct lever in this storyline, and it can create second- and third-order effects across multiple rosters. For Montreal, the question becomes less about whether the Canadiens would like an upgrade in a vacuum and more about whether the trade price, the availability of options, and the fit with a team’s current goaltending structure line up in a practical window.

As of now, the information points to a market with moving parts rather than a completed deal. Montreal’s next step should be watched for signs that it is prepared to act if opportunities emerge, particularly around Samuel Montembeault, whose name has been discussed in connection with Montreal’s contingency planning.