Top 20 Canadiens Prospects: Fowler Thrives Under Pressure
The Montreal Canadiens were long known for elite goaltending, a reputation they are now working to restore with help of top prospect Jacob Fowler.
It would be unfair to claim they endured poor goaltending in recent years. Veteran Samuel Montembeault delivered excellent netminding under a very reasonable contract, until the 2025-26 season.
A slow start opened the door for rookie Jakub Dobes, who seized the opportunity with aplomb. That success, in turn, paved the way for Fowler’s promotion to the NHL, despite his limited professional experience.
It was a risky decision by Canadiens management, to say the least. Fowler had already been persuaded to leave the NCAA early after just two seasons with the Boston College Eagles.
By the time of his mid-December call-up, he had appeared in only 15 AHL games with the Laval Rocket. In other words, he had fewer than 900 minutes of professional hockey under his belt before making his NHL debut.
Yet, this was far from the first high-pressure situation Fowler had faced. His track record suggested he possessed the mental fortitude required for another demanding challenge.
His first start came on December 11 against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins. It set a high standard: Fowler stopped 36 of 38 shots to secure the win for the Habs. Once again, he proved that a lack of experience would not hold him back.
Due to his excellence during his NHL audition, Canadiens fans ranked Fowler as the No. 2 overall prospect in the system for the second consecutive year.
Previously published Montreal Canadiens prospect rankings
No. 2 – Jacob Fowler – 21 – Goaltender – Catches Left – 6’2″ – 214lb – Laval Rocket (AHL) – Drafted 69th Overall 2023
Given the tumultuous goaltending results prior to his call-up, Canadiens fans immediately gravitated toward Fowler’s stoic presence, despite his rookie status.
Without putting too much stock in his first game, it was clear he was up to the task as the Penguins pressed late.
His remarkably calm save on Crosby illustrated perfectly what he could bring to the table.
It wasn’t a highlight-reel stop by any means, but the Habs didn’t need a flashy goalie at that point. What they needed was someone who could make the routine saves while maintaining elite defensive positioning against second-chance opportunities.
That’s precisely what Fowler provided, particularly on the penalty kill and when the Penguins pulled Tristan Jarry for an extra attacker.
Immediate Impact
Fowler went on to post a 9-6-2 record during the regular season. More importantly, he produced the best numbers among the three netminders used that year.
His .908 save percentage and 2.43 goals-against average led the group on a team that lacked defensive prowess. He was also the only Canadiens goalie to record a shutout, stopping all 31 shots in a December 20 rematch against the Penguins.
It’s worth remembering that the Habs struggled to control shots last season—a clear sign of the imbalance between their elite offensive talent and questionable defensive structure. Montreal finished sixth in the league in even-strength goals scored but ranked 18th in goals allowed.
The defensive issues ran even deeper: the Canadiens ranked 22nd in shot share (48.6%) and 29th in high-danger scoring chances (46.1%). They surrendered a steady stream of odd-man rushes nearly every night, making life difficult for both Montembeault and Dobes.
As a result, confidence sat at an all-time low when Fowler arrived. He quickly reversed that trend, losing just one regulation game in his first six starts. His tracking was particularly strong, and he limited rebounds far more effectively than his counterparts.
Fowler’s confidence quickly spread throughout the lineup, bolstered by his ability to deliver strong results whenever the opposing team seized momentum, most notably in the final two minutes of the March 11 game against the Ottawa Senators.
He made 32 saves in the win; however, most of the attention centred on his relatively calm play amid the chaotic conclusion of the matchup.
It wasn’t the prettiest victory, but it indicated that Fowler could close out games when the young Habs were out of gas, a recurring theme throughout the season.
Jacob Fowler Projection
We’ve already used over 1,000 words discussing Fowler’s NHL tenure without really examining his AHL results in detail.
Make no mistake, though: Fowler was clearly Laval’s best goaltender, posting a 19-7-1 record, a 2.23 goals-against average, and a .916 save percentage. The only other Rocket goaltender to record a save percentage above .900 was Montembeault (.904), and that came during a brief conditioning stint in the AHL.
Fowler also notched three shutouts and stopped six of the seven shootout attempts he faced. In other words, the Canadiens didn’t call him up solely out of desperation to shore up their struggling goaltending, though that was certainly part of the equation. They had watched a young goalie who refused to buckle under the pressure of making his professional debut with the Rocket, rising so quickly through the ranks that he became one of the most valuable goaltenders in the league after just a handful of starts.
Of course, Fowler’s story is far from over.
We’re still only at the very beginning of his professional hockey career.
There’s even a possibility that Fowler, whom many Canadiens fans view as the clear-cut heir apparent, will spend the bulk of the upcoming season in the AHL, due to how difficult it will be to trade Montembeault.
There’s also no rush to install him as the Canadiens’ starter, especially after Dobes’ excellent play during last season’s surprising run to the Eastern Conference Final.
Fowler still has a few areas to refine, including his tracking when the puck goes below the goal line and his positioning on odd-man rushes. These aren’t true weaknesses, per se, but they could stand improvement.
That said, if history is any guide, it won’t be long before Fowler is back in the NHL, making spectacular saves while keeping the same steady heart rate as a U.S. Marine Corps sniper.
It may take a little longer than some expect (given his already meteoric rise), but there’s no doubt Jacob Fowler projects as a potential starter for the Montreal Canadiens.
Jacob Fowler statistics via Elite Prospects. Montreal Canadiens underlying numbers via Natural Stat Trick.
