3 Goaltenders the Canadiens Could Target in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft

The Montreal Canadiens appear to be in a strong position when it comes to their future in goal. Jacob Fowler remains one of the organization’s top prospects, while Jakub Dobes has already shown he can contribute at the NHL level. That being said, drafting goaltenders is never a bad idea. The position is notoriously unpredictable, and teams often need several prospects developing at the same time to ensure long-term success. With multiple draft picks at their disposal, the Canadiens could once again look to add another netminder to the pipeline. Here are three goalies who could be on Montreal’s radar.

Brady Knowling

Brady Knowling is the type of goaltender that immediately catches scouts’ attention because of his size. Standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing over 200 pounds, he already possesses the frame NHL teams love to see in a modern netminder.

However, what makes Knowling particularly intriguing is that he doesn’t move like a typical big goalie. Despite his size, he is remarkably mobile and can move across his crease with ease. His lateral quickness allows him to recover quickly after making an initial save, a skill that has become increasingly important in today’s NHL where east-west puck movement is more common than ever.

Knowling is still considered somewhat of a raw prospect, but the tools are undeniable. His reflexes stand out whenever he plays, often allowing him to make difficult saves that many goaltenders simply cannot. Those natural abilities have many scouts believing he possesses significant long-term upside.

The Canadiens have shown in recent years that they are willing to be patient with their prospects, especially goaltenders. With Fowler and Dobes already in the system, Montreal would not need to rush Knowling’s development. Instead, they could allow him to continue refining his game over several years while focusing on maximizing his considerable physical and athletic gifts. If the Canadiens are looking for a high-upside project with the potential to become a starting NHL goaltender one day, Knowling could be an excellent option.

Tobias Trejbal

Another interesting name is Tobias Trejbal of the Youngstown Phantoms in the United States Hockey League. Trejbal enjoyed an outstanding season, posting a 30-9-3 record while finishing with a 2.12 goals-against average (GAA) and a .916 save percentage (SV%). Those numbers helped establish him as one of the most reliable goaltenders in the league and drew plenty of attention from NHL scouts.

Like Knowling, Trejbal brings excellent size to the position. At 6-foot-4, he covers a significant portion of the net and makes life difficult for opposing shooters. His frame allows him to take away angles effectively without having to overcommit to plays. What separates Trejbal from many young goaltenders is his composure. He plays with a calm and confident style that rarely appears rushed. Even when facing heavy pressure, he remains under control and trusts his positioning.

That calmness is often one of the hardest qualities to teach young goalies. While athleticism and technique can be improved over time, confidence and poise tend to be more natural traits. Trejbal already demonstrates both.

For a Canadiens organization that values hockey sense and decision-making throughout its prospect pool, Trejbal could be a particularly attractive target. His combination of size, production and mental maturity makes him one of the more intriguing goaltending options available.

William Lacelle

While many teams continue searching for bigger goaltenders, William Lacelle proves that size is not everything. Standing at 6-feet and weighing 176 pounds, Lacelle is smaller than the typical NHL goalie prospect. Nevertheless, his performances this season were impossible to ignore. Between the Rimouski Oceanic and Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, he posted a 27-15-2 record, a 2.49 GAA and a .917 SV% in 45 games.

What Lacelle lacks in size, he makes up for with technique and intelligence. His positional play is among the strongest aspects of his game. He consistently places himself in excellent position to make saves, minimizing the need for unnecessary movement. Because of that, he always gives himself a chance to stop the puck even when facing dangerous scoring opportunities.

For the Canadiens, Lacelle could represent excellent value if he remains available later in the draft. Montreal has had success identifying talented goaltenders outside the early rounds before, and Lacelle’s combination of athleticism, intelligence and technical skill could make him another worthwhile gamble.

The Canadiens may already have promising young goaltenders in their system, but organizations can never have too much depth at the position. Each goalie presents a different profile, but all three have qualities that could make them appealing options for Montreal as the organization continues building for both the present and the future.