In today’s NHL rumors rundown, the Toronto Maple Leafs are dealing with another defensive injury and could be waiting for the right opportunity to make a significant trade. Meanwhile, the…
When André Peloffy suited up for the expansion 1974-75 Washington Capitals, he became the first player born in France to play in the National Hockey League. Originally selected by the…
Nathaniel O. · · 10 min read
Injuries have hit the Edmonton Oilers hard, especially up front. They are currently without Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Matt Savoie, Colton Dach, Jason Dickinson, Mattias Janmark, and Zach Hyman. They have been…
Matt P. · · 4 min read
The Montreal Canadiens entered the 2026-27 season with plenty of optimism surrounding their goaltending situation. After an impressive playoff run last spring, Jakub Dobes appeared ready to take another step forward and establish himself as the team’s starting goaltender. With an extension in hand and the organization’s confidence behind him, expectations were understandably high. However, just a few weeks into the season, things haven’t gone according to plan. Dobes has struggled to find consistency, raising some questions about the Canadiens’ situation between the pipes. While it is far too early to panic, Montreal certainly needs more from its young netminder moving forward. Dobes’ Struggles in Numbers Through his first four starts of the season, Dobes has posted a disappointing 1-2-1 record, accompanied by a 4.63 goals-against average and an .842 save percentage. Those numbers are far from what the Canadiens expected from a goaltender who looked so promising just a few months ago. Unfortunately, the numbers don’t tell the entire story, either. Even by the eye test, Dobes has looked uncomfortable at times, struggling to make some of the saves that fans became accustomed to seeing from him last season. Interestingly enough, his season actually started on a positive note. In Montreal’s season opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Dobes delivered a strong performance, stopping 26 of the 28 shots he faced and helping the Canadiens secure a victory. He looked confident, composed, and ready to build on his impressive playoff performances. Since then, however, things have gone downhill. His last three starts have been particularly difficult, with Dobes struggling to provide the stability Montreal desperately needs. Of course, the Canadiens’ defensive play hasn’t exactly helped matters. The team has struggled with turnovers and defensive-zone coverage early in the season, frequently allowing dangerous scoring opportunities. Still, while Dobes certainly isn’t responsible for every goal against, the Canadiens need their goaltender to make timely saves when the team struggles defensively. That simply hasn’t happened consistently enough over his last three appearances. Dobes’ Struggles Raise Questions Heading into the season, Dobes appeared to have a clear path toward becoming Montreal’s starting goaltender. After an excellent playoff run in which he helped the Canadiens make a deep postseason push, the organization rewarded him with a three-year contract extension worth just under $5.4 million annually. The deal demonstrated Montreal’s confidence in his ability to become an important part of the team’s future. However, his difficult start has complicated things, particularly with the emergence of Jacob Fowler. Since being recalled following Samuel Montembeault‘s injury, Fowler has looked impressive in his first three appearances. The young goaltender has recorded two victories, a 1.91 goals-against average, and a .906 save percentage. He also delivered a particularly impressive performance against the Detroit Red Wings, keeping them off the scoresheet through regulation, overtime, and the shootout. Based on their respective performances, it is difficult to argue that Fowler doesn’t deserve more opportunities right now. That brings us to an interesting question: What happens when Montembeault returns? Before his injury, Montembeault was expected to share the workload with Dobes. However, Fowler’s strong performances and Dobes’ struggles could force the Canadiens to reconsider their plans. One possibility would be to carry three goaltenders temporarily, allowing Montreal to evaluate the situation without immediately sending Fowler back to the Laval Rocket. It would also provide some insurance should Dobes continue struggling. Of course, keeping three goaltenders comes with its own complications. There are only so many starts available, and having three netminders competing for playing time could make it difficult for everyone to establish a rhythm. Sending Fowler back to Laval might make sense from a developmental standpoint, but doing so while he is outperforming Dobes would certainly raise some eyebrows. For now, the Canadiens have an interesting decision ahead of them, and Dobes’ next few performances could play an important role in determining how the organization handles the situation. Still Too Early to Panic About Dobes Despite his disappointing numbers, it is important to remember that Dobes has only played four games this season, with his struggles primarily coming over his last three starts. That is an extremely small sample size, especially for a young goaltender still establishing himself at the NHL level. Goaltenders go through difficult stretches, and even some of the league’s best netminders experience periods when things simply aren’t going their way. Dobes is no different. More importantly, his performances last season demonstrated that he has the ability to succeed under pressure. His playoff run wasn’t a coincidence, and a few difficult games shouldn’t erase everything he accomplished. However, there is a difference between being patient and ignoring legitimate concerns. The Canadiens have ambitions of competing near the top of the Atlantic Division this season, and they cannot afford inconsistent goaltending for an extended period. With Fowler pushing for more opportunities and Montembeault expected to return, Dobes will need to respond.…
William B. · · 6 min read
On Thursday, Oct. 15, the New Jersey Devils hosted the New York Rangers for their first matchup of the 2026-27 NHL season. The first period got a little chippy, with…
Jess A. · · 4 min read
The Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) season is now more than a month old and some young players already left their mark on it. Here are five NHL drafted prospects whose…
Alessandro R. · · 5 min read
The Chicago Blackhawks won in overtime against the Winnipeg Jets 4-3. It’s their first game that went past regulation and it ends with a win on home ice. The forward…
Savina B. · · 5 min read
NHL free agency is right around the corner. This class may be one of the weakest in years, but keep up with all the major signings with our free agency…
Kyle G. · · 4 min read
Yesterday in Hockey History: Oct. 14 Tomorrow in Hockey History: Oct. 16 The greatest player in the history of the National Hockey League took his place at the top of…
Matthew Z. · · 8 min read
It’s rare that one trade catches an entire sport by surprise, but when the Montreal Canadiens dealt defenseman Chris Chelios and a second-round draft choice to the Chicago Blackhawks for…
THW A. · · 5 min read
*This article was originally published in Sep. 2019 On Sept. 13, 2018, the San Jose Sharks made an absolutely shocking trade with the Ottawa Senators. They traded for two-time Norris…
Marco M. · · 5 min read
Though it was nice to get a point on the road against the Montreal Canadiens, the Buffalo Sabres have been…
Ryan W. · · 4 min read
The Edmonton Oilers may be battling the injury bug in the early stages of the season, but it hasn’t looked…
Jackson S. · · 4 min read
The St. Louis Blues‘ two-game winning streak came to an end Thursday night with a 5-4 loss to the Minnesota…
Joshua M. · · 5 min read
Barring a drastic turnaround, the Calgary Flames aren’t going to be a playoff team this season. While they were finally…
Rupert M. · · 5 min read
The Edmonton Oilers were defeated in regulation for the first time this season, falling by a score of 4-2 to…
Brian S. · · 4 min read
It’s still very early in the NHL season, but the Minnesota Wild have already been dealt their fair share of…
Mariah (. · · 5 min read
The Calgary Flames were feeling good about themselves the past few days after picking up their first win of the…
Rupert M. · · 4 min read
The Vancouver Canucks have lost six games in a row, getting beaten by the incredibly tough Florida Panthers off the…
Ryan C. · · 4 min read
The Minnesota Wild played host to the St.Louis Blues on Thursday night, Oct. 15, after a quick one-game road trip…
Mariah (. · · 6 min read
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