Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens have reportedly found their new goalie

General manager Kent Hughes is aggressively working the phones to find a permanent solution. The current goaltending rotation is simply not holding up under the intense pressure of the Bell Centre.

Samuel Montembeault was given every conceivable opportunity to claim the undisputed starting role this season. He has completely failed to deliver on those high expectations.

He has continually struggled with making routine stops during critical moments. A save percentage hovering around .895 will not win you many hockey games in the ruthless Atlantic Division.

The defensive structure in front of him is certainly flawed. But those incredibly deflating weak goals are completely draining the energy right out of the locker room.

Management clearly understands they cannot waste another year of prime offensive output by relying on a porous net. They need a proven veteran to lock things down on the back end.

The St. Louis Blues are actively listening to serious offers. Montreal is quietly emerging as a massive threat to land their star netminder before the buzzer sounds.

Binnington brings a coveted Stanley Cup ring and undeniable swagger to the rink. He is exactly the type of personality who does not shy away from intense media scrutiny.

He boasts a steady 2.80 goals-against average and over 160 wins. The veteran goaltender thrives when the building gets loud and the stakes are at their absolute highest.

Critics will immediately point out his hefty $6 million cap hit. Hughes has the exact stockpile of draft capital and flexible cap space to make the financial math work perfectly.

Montreal remains a highly underrated frontrunner because they possess the young assets required to satisfy a retooling Blues organization. A blockbuster deal makes perfect logical sense for both sides.

Adding Binnington to the mix would instantly calm down an erratic blue line. His elite puck-handling ability also directly fuels the transition game and initiates rapid breakouts.

Relegating Montembeault to a backup role immediately takes the weight of the world off his shoulders. It perfectly balances the entire roster configuration moving forward.

The trade deadline is closing in fast on the entire league. Expect Hughes to make a massive splash and finally secure his crease for the foreseeable future.