In today’s NHL rumour rundown, we start off with some comments from Quinn Hughes regarding the possibility of an extension with the Minnesota Wild. Next, with questions in the crease,…
When the Montreal Canadiens acquired Alex Newhook from the Colorado Avalanche in the 2023 NHL offseason, opinions were divided. Some believed Kent Hughes had paid a hefty price for a…
William B. · · 4 min read
The Buffalo Sabres have been a member of the NHL for 56 years now, and while things haven’t been good for them in recent memory, this is a team that…
Brandon S. · · 14 min read
Let’s face it, we’re all a little tired of the Chicago Blackhawks. Given how often they’re on national television, how many of them were named to the National Hockey League’s…
THW A. · · 15 min read
It’s early in the NHL season, but a few teams are off to stronger starts than some may have expected. The question is, how real are these starts? Let’s dive…
Alex C. · · 6 min read
The Montreal Canadiens entered the 2026-27 season with plenty of questions surrounding their goaltending situation, but few expected Jacob Fowler to become such an important part of the conversation this early. After being recalled following Samuel Montembeault’s injury, the young netminder has taken full advantage of his opportunity, quickly establishing himself as Montreal’s most reliable option between the pipes. With Montembeault eventually returning and Jakub Dobes struggling to find his game, the Canadiens are approaching a difficult decision. However, one thing is becoming increasingly clear, Fowler might not only be Montreal’s goaltender of the future, but also its best option right now. Fowler Is Making a Strong Case to Be the No. 1 When Fowler was recalled from the Laval Rocket, the expectation was that he would provide temporary relief while Montembeault recovered. Instead, the 21-year-old has played his way into a much bigger role. Through six appearances this season, Fowler has put together an impressive 5-1-0 record, accompanied by a 1.79 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage. Those are outstanding numbers for any goaltender, let alone one still adjusting to the NHL level. However, what makes Fowler’s performance particularly encouraging goes beyond the statistics. The young American has looked remarkably calm and collected between the pipes. He rarely seems overwhelmed by the moment, controls his movements well, and has shown the ability to make important saves when his team needs them most. For a Canadiens team that has experienced its share of defensive struggles and blown leads early this season, having a goaltender capable of providing stability is incredibly valuable. Perhaps most importantly, Fowler has consistently given Montreal a legitimate chance to win every night. That is exactly what the Canadiens need from their starting goaltender, especially as they look to establish themselves as a serious playoff contender. What Happens When Montembeault Returns? While Fowler’s emergence is undoubtedly excellent news for the Canadiens, it also creates an interesting dilemma for the organization. What happens when Montembeault is healthy enough to return? Under normal circumstances, the decision would be relatively straightforward. Fowler would return to Laval, where he could continue developing while receiving regular starts. However, given how well he has performed, sending him back to the American Hockey League would be difficult to justify. One possibility is that Montreal decides to carry three goaltenders for the foreseeable future. That scenario becomes particularly interesting when considering Dobes’ struggles. After entering the season with high expectations following his impressive playoff performances, Dobes has experienced a difficult start. Through five starts, he has recorded just one victory while posting a concerning 4.47 goals-against average and a .847 save percentage. Those numbers are simply not good enough, especially for a team hoping to compete for a playoff spot. Of course, five starts are not enough to completely give up on a young goaltender. Dobes has already demonstrated that he can perform at the NHL level, and the Canadiens should not forget that. Meanwhile, Montembeault remains the veteran of the group. Despite his injury and uncertain future with the organization, Montreal cannot simply remove him from the equation. Unless the Canadiens find a trade partner, he will remain part of their goaltending picture. Carrying three goaltenders is far from ideal, particularly because it limits playing opportunities and takes up an additional roster spot. Nevertheless, it might be the most realistic short-term solution if the organization wants to keep Fowler in Montreal without making a premature decision on Dobes or Montembeault. Fowler Could Be the Present and Future Perhaps the most exciting aspect of Fowler’s emergence is what it means for the Canadiens beyond this season. For years, Montreal has been searching for a long-term answer in net following the Carey Price era. While Montembeault has provided some stability and Dobes has shown flashes of potential, neither has completely established himself as the franchise’s unquestioned goaltender of the future. Fowler, meanwhile, has the potential to change that. Selected in the third round of the 2023 NHL Draft, Fowler has steadily developed into one of Montreal’s most promising prospects. His impressive performances at Boston College, followed by his progression through the professional ranks, have only reinforced the belief that he could eventually become a legitimate NHL starter. What nobody necessarily expected was for that transition to happen so quickly. Obviously, six games represent a very small sample size. Fowler will face adversity, and there will undoubtedly be stretches where he struggles. That is simply part of developing into an NHL goaltender. However, the Canadiens should not ignore what he has demonstrated so far. If Fowler continues playing at this level, Montreal will have little reason to look elsewhere for its starting goaltender. More importantly, the organization could finally have a young netminder capable of growing alongside its emerging core of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Lane Hutson, and Ivan Demidov.…
William B. · · 6 min read
You know a schedule is strange when a head coach who’s been in the NHL for decades says he’s never seen anything like this before. With the exception of two…
Mark S. · · 6 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. 24 Tomorrow in Hockey History: Oct. 26 On this date, the NHL’s highest-scoring defenseman ever took his place at the top of the list. Also,…
Matthew Z. · · 11 min read
The Forum. The Olympia. The Stadium. The names of the Original Six’s arenas were instantly recognizable to hockey fans around the world, shorthand or not. Well, for fans of the…
Eugene H. · · 12 min read
June 28 is the anniversary of one of the most remarkable trades in Toronto Maple Leafs history. It was the trade that sent Maple Leafs captain and fan-favorite Wendel Clark…
The P. · · 6 min read
The Winnipeg Jets hosted the Montreal Canadiens in the 2026 Heritage Classic on a crisp Sunday evening at a sold-out…
Declan S. · · 5 min read
After losing their second straight, a 4-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils, the Avalanche needed a “get right” game.…
Ryan W. · · 4 min read
In the wake of a 4-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, the Chicago Blackhawks were looking to shake things up…
Ryan W. · · 4 min read
Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Pyotr Andreyanov was named the Kontinental Hockey League’s (KHL) Rookie of the Week on Monday, the…
Alessandro R. · · 2 min read
The Syracuse Crunch had three games in five days this past week, with two of them being on the road…
Jim P. · · 4 min read
The sky continues to fall over Rogers Arena. As October draws to a close, the Vancouver Canucks find themselves in…
Matthew Z. · · 4 min read
The Minnesota Wild were in the midst of their road trip when they faced the Seattle Kraken in the first…
Mariah (. · · 5 min read
The St. Louis Blues began a five-game homestand this past week. It was a successful week overall. They started with…
Andrew W. · · 4 min read
The reigning Stanley Cup champions had an interesting five-game road trip during the North Carolina State Fair; on top of…
Zach M. · · 5 min read
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