The Montreal Canadiens find themselves in a difficult stretch, and emotions are naturally running high after an ugly 6–1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The response from management was immediate; three players were recalled: Owen Beck, Adam Engström, and goaltender Jacob Fowler.
With Jake Evans potentially dealing with a foot injury, the team needed reinforcements at centre. Engström offers depth with Kaiden Guhle still sidelined. But it’s the call-up of Fowler that has sparked the most debate, and it ties directly into the larger theme of where this organization stands right now. The Canadiens are in a rough patch, yes, but they are also a young, building team. That’s precisely why patience, not panic, should guide every decision.
Difficulties
Reality is reality; the Habs have lost 10 of their last 15 games. That kind of slump can make any fan base restless and any management group feel pressure to act. Add in the mounting injuries, several regulars out of the lineup, and now Evans’ status in question, and the situation becomes more complicated. Depth is being tested in every area, and the team’s confidence has taken a hit.
The recall of Engström makes sense considering the blue line’s instability, but the bigger headline is Fowler. The Canadiens promoted him for insurance, but it also reflects how thin things have become in goal. Samuel Montembeault hasn’t been sharp enough to settle games, and Jakub Dobes’ inconsistency has left the door open for speculation at the position. It’s understandable that frustration is building, especially when the defensive structure collapses as easily as it did against the Lightning. But it’s in these exact moments, when the team struggles, when the noise gets loud, that patience matters most.
Patience
The temptation to throw Fowler into the NHL right now is strong. He’s been sensational for the Laval Rocket, putting up one of the best seasons by a rookie goaltender the Rocket have seen. He looks calm, he looks confident, and he looks like the Habs’ most promising future option between the pipes. But that’s exactly why recalling him right now, in this environment, feels like the wrong move. Young goalies need to play. They need rhythm, they need confidence, they need structure in front of them. Laval offers Fowler all of that at the moment. Montreal does not.
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The Canadiens’ defensive play has been chaotic for weeks. Rush chances against are piling up, net-front coverage breaks down too easily, and the team is giving up goals in bunches. Just take the Lightning’s first three goals: two breakaways and a play where everyone was running everywhere in the defensive zone. It is not an environment built to protect a young goaltender. It’s one thing to give a prospect a taste of the NHL when the team is structurally sound and competitive. It’s another to throw him into a situation where he could potentially be shelled.
Montembeault and Dobes haven’t been good enough, that’s true, but goalies, like skaters, develop through adversity. Fowler is not the solution to short-term pain. He is part of the long-term future, and rushing him could jeopardize that.
Alternatives
If the Canadiens are intent on making a change in goal, they already have a better option than Fowler, Kaapo Kähkönen. Signed for just over $1 million this summer, the veteran netminder was brought in specifically to provide NHL-level depth. He has experience, he has handled NHL shooters, and unlike Fowler, recalling Kähkönen doesn’t risk interrupting a crucial development path. Don’t get me wrong, Fowler is a better goalie, but Kähkönen lets Fowler continue his development and provides competition in Montreal.
Kähkönen can come in, take some starts, and weather some of the instability without risking long-term consequences. That is what depth veterans are for. Even with the current skid, the Canadiens remain in the playoff race. They are not out of it, and they are certainly not in a position to sacrifice development for desperation. This is still a young team, still building toward something bigger, still learning how to win consistently. There is no shortcut to that process, and no need to force one.
The message right now should be simple: stay the course. Let the injured players return, the young core grow, and Fowler continue dominating in Laval where he belongs. The Canadiens are not contenders yet, and there is nothing to gain by pretending otherwise. Patience is due, and patience is how this team will eventually get where it wants to be.
