Al Montoya, an American professional ice hockey goaltender, played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for several teams during his career. Born on February 13, 1985, in Chicago, Illinois, Montoya was drafted sixth overall by the New York Rangers in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. Although he was drafted by the Rangers, Montoya did not make his NHL debut with them. Instead, he spent the early part of his professional career honing his skills in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Rangers' affiliate team.
Montoya's NHL debut came with the Phoenix Coyotes during the 2008-2009 season. He played a single game for the Coyotes, marking the beginning of his journey in the NHL. However, it was with the New York Islanders that Montoya found more stability. Joining the Islanders in the 2010-2011 season, he played 21 games and posted a commendable performance, which helped him secure a spot on the team for the following season. During his time with the Islanders, Montoya demonstrated his abilities as a reliable backup goaltender.
In 2012, Montoya signed with the Winnipeg Jets, where he continued to serve as a backup goaltender. Over two seasons with the Jets, he played in 28 games, providing solid support in the net. His tenure with the Jets was followed by a move to the Florida Panthers in 2014. Montoya spent two seasons with the Panthers, where he played a crucial role as a backup to the starting goaltender, Roberto Luongo. His performance during the 2015-2016 season was particularly noteworthy, as he achieved a career-high save percentage.
Montoya's journey continued with the Montreal Canadiens, who signed him in 2016. He played for the Canadiens for parts of two seasons, contributing to the team's goaltending depth. In 2018, Montoya was traded to the Edmonton Oilers, where he played his final NHL games. Throughout his career, Montoya was known for his ability to step in as a reliable backup and provide stability in the net when called upon.
Off the ice, Montoya was recognized as the first Cuban-American to play in the NHL, a milestone that highlighted the diversity within the sport.
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