2026 Canadiens Top 25 Under 25: #6 Jacob Fowler
Introduction
It can be hard to analyze goalies, let alone goaltending prospects, in this exercise. I have misjudged plenty of talents between the pipes for better and for worse, but for the first time in a long time there’s a goaltender who makes it easy to see what the future holds. From being the sixth goalie taken in his draft class to a World Juniors gold, the NCAA goalie of the year, a two-time All American, and already making his NHL debut, it’s clear that the sky is the limit for Jacob Fowler.
He made the jump to the professional ranks full-time last year, playing 27 games for the Laval Rocket with a 19-7-2 record with three shutouts alongside a .916 save percentage and a 2.23 goals-against average. He was among the AHL’s top goalies before the Montreal Canadiens opted to recall him in favour of a struggling Samuel Montembeault. At the NHL level, Fowler played 17 games, going 9-6-2 with .908 save percentage and an average of 2.43 goals against.
His calm demeanour made the transition to the NHL level almost seamless and helped the Canadiens right the ship as they made a strong push for the playoffs in the second half of the season. His immediate impact behind Jakub Dobeš relegated Montembeault to the press box on most nights, and that could lead to the veteran’s departure before the new season begins.
Voting
Every panellist had Fowler slotted in their top 10, just as they did last summer. This time, however, the majority placed him within their top five.
The community vote is very similar, with fourth and fifth being his most common landing points, though very few placed him any higher than that, with a sheer cliff to the top three.
Top 25 Under 25 History
Fowler has steadily progressed through the levels of hockey since he was drafted in 2023, and risen in the order at the same time.
History of #6
| Year | #6 |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Jacob Fowler |
| 2025 | David Reinbacher |
| 2024 | Kaiden Guhle |
| 2023 | Lane Hutson |
| 2022 | Justin Barron |
| 2021 | Ryan Poehling |
| 2020 | Cayden Primeau |
| 2019 | Victor Mete |
| 2018 | Jesperi Kotkaniemi |
| 2017 | Charlie Lindgren |
| 2016 | Nikita Scherbak |
| 2015 | Jacob de la Rose |
| 2014 | Nikita Scherbak |
| 2013 | Nathan Beaulieu |
| 2012 | Louis Leblanc |
| 2011 | Louis Leblanc |
| 2010 | Danny Kristo |
Strengths
When Carey Price says a player reminds him of himself, you have a good indication of a goaltender’s quality. While many want to avoid crowning him as the second coming of the Hart Trophy-winner, it is impossible to ignore the similarities when you watch Fowler between the pipes. He isn’t the largest goalie at 6’2″, but his economy of movement makes him incredibly efficient at covering space quickly and effectively.
Fowler moves post to post explosively, allowing him to come across with his glove or blocker to deny opponents. He manages to seal the ice well, not allowing many pucks to be swept past him, and even if there is a second chance he can quickly swallow up the loose puck to deny that as well.
Perhaps most impressive about Fowler, and his most Price-like quality, is that those rebounds or second chances are extremely rare. He does well to absorb the initial shot into his body and then seal any of his gaps to stop the play.
Outside of the technical aspects, what sets Fowler apart from so many of his peers is that he is a fierce competitor. Every single game he is there to give everything he has. Whether he’s facing down 40-plus shots or fewer than 20, he is aggressive and battling for every save. In his pre-draft interview he talked about how he thrives under pressure, and it shows.
Weaknesses
Fowler is one of the most well-rounded goaltending prospects I’ve had to joy of watching in the professional ranks. There were concerns about his conditioning heading into the NCAA and the professional leagues, but after being relied upon to start back-to-back games regularly in the AHL, those may very well be a thing of the past.
As is the case with many young goalies there are times when they need to learn about the next step up and how they have to adjust from their previous league. While Fowler fared more than admirably in his NHL games last year, there were a few moments when he didn’t adequately challenge an angle and was beaten from distance. These moments are few and far between, and with more games he will quickly adjust.
Projection
Goaltenders are always hard to evaluate at any level, as one hot season can turn into a poor one, or a disastrous campaign can be just a blip for someone who becomes a quality NHL goaltender. Fowler has shown, at multiple levels, that he is capable of learning and thriving in almost no time at all. I thought previously that he would likely spend this entire 2025-26 season in Laval, with maybe a short stint in the NHL at the end of the season. However, his ability to step into the fire to replace Montembeault and help to correct the listing ship was a massive turning point for the Canadiens.
Now he enters training camp in a battle with not only Montembeault, but also Dobeš to claim as many starts as possible. While Dobeš, fresh off a contract extension and incredible playoff run, is the expected starter, a strong showing by Fowler could allow the Canadiens to shift to the more modern 1A/1B goaltending tandem. Based on the previous season it would be expected that Fowler has the inside track, which leaves the Canadiens’ front office with a decision to make in net. Even if Fowler starts the year for a handful of games with the Laval Rocket, it would be shocking if he is there for any extended period of time.
Long-term, it appears that Fowler is being groomed to become the starting goalie of the future. At just 21 years old there is no reason to rush him into that space, but it is clear that his professional game and composure have him earmarked for that role. With Dobeš a bit further ahead in his development, it’s a great spot for the Canadiens to be in as they finally emerge from the post-Price haze.
