The Montreal Canadiens have been here before. Goaltending depth, once considered a luxury, can quickly become a complication. With Jacob Fowler’s strong early performances and Samuel Montembault trying to rediscover his game with the Laval Rocket, a familiar question is starting to surface: could the Habs effectively run a three-goalie rotation as they did a few seasons ago? While it’s a scenario we’ve seen, that doesn’t make it the right path forward.
Fowler’s Game Is Forcing the Conversation
Fowler is doing everything he can to stay in the NHL. In his debut, the 21-year-old has posted a 2-1-1 record through four starts, a 2.49 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage. Those numbers are more than respectable, especially for a goalie thrown into a difficult situation behind a team that has struggled defensively.
What stands out most with Fowler isn’t just the stat line, but how calm he looks in the crease. He tracks the puck well, moves efficiently, and rarely seems overwhelmed by the pace. That composure was on full display Saturday against the Pittsburgh Penguins, when Fowler recorded his first NHL shutout.
Meanwhile, Montembault has been working to regain his footing. After a difficult stretch, he played two games with the Rocket to rebuild confidence and rhythm. Now back with the big club, he finds himself sharing the crease with a young goalie who is actively pushing for more starts. Add Jakub Dobes into the mix, and suddenly the Canadiens are staring at the possibility of carrying three NHL-calibre goaltenders.
Canadiens Have Seen This Before
This isn’t new territory for Montreal. During the 2023-24 season, the Canadiens used a three-goalie setup for long stretches. That year, Montembault appeared in 41 games, Jake Allen played 21, and Cayden Primeau saw the net 23 times. It wasn’t always clean or predictable, but head coach Martin St. Louis was comfortable managing the rotation.
St. Louis has consistently shown openness to unconventional solutions if he believes it helps the group. The three-goalie approach allowed the Canadiens to manage workloads, protect young players from burnout, and ride the hot hand when needed. From a coaching perspective, it offered flexibility.
Because of that history, it wouldn’t be surprising if St. Louis were willing to explore that option again. With Fowler playing well, Montembault needing stability, and Dobes still in the development phase, the ingredients for another three-goalie situation are clearly there.
Canadiens Goalies Need Clarity
Despite the precedent, a three-goalie setup is not the right move for this group. First, and most importantly, Fowler needs to play. Consistent starts are critical for his development. Whether that’s in Montreal or Laval, sitting on the bench and starting sporadically will not help his game. Young goalies don’t develop just by watching; they develop by facing shots, managing games, and learning from mistakes. If Fowler is staying in the NHL, he needs a defined role with regular ice time.
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Second, Montembault needs clarity. Confidence is already an issue, and a crowded crease rarely helps a struggling goalie. He has proven in the past that he can go stretches as the number one. To return to that level, he needs trust, rhythm, and predictability. A three-goalie rotation risks keeping him in a constant state of uncertainty.
Finally, there’s Dobes. While he hasn’t been perfect, he hasn’t been bad either. He’s still learning the NHL game, and development at this level requires opportunity. If all three goalies are splitting starts, someone inevitably loses valuable playing time.
At some point, the Canadiens will need to make a decision. Either a goalie is moved via trade, or Fowler is sent back to Laval, where he can play heavy minutes and continue his progression. Trying to keep everyone happy rarely works, especially at the most mentally demanding position in the game.
Fowler’s strong play has created a good problem for the Canadiens, but it’s still a problem that needs a clear solution. While Montreal has successfully used a three-goalie setup in the past, the current situation calls for decisiveness rather than repetition. Fowler needs games, Montembault needs confidence, and Dobes needs development. Stretching the crease too thin risks helping no one at all.
