It should surprise no one that Jacob Fowler is near the top of Scott Wheeler's top-20 goaltender prospects list on The Athletic. The surprise was that he wasn't No. 1, but it makes sense for Yaroslav Askarov to get the nod as he is about to take over the net with the San Jose Sharks. It's a funny coincidence that Askarov is ahead of Fowler, as it's the same situation as last season in the skaters list with Ivan Demidov and Macklin Celebrini. Demidov rose to No. 1 this season after Celebrini "graduated," so will Fowler do the same in next year's rankings?
You could likely argue that Fowler won't be able to rise to No. 1 next season because he might also be in the NHL. It may not be the best path for his development, but the Canadiens have been waiting for him to turn pro and his play at Boston College proves that he could be ready. However, we've seen this story before, notably when the Buffalo Sabres tried to rush Devon Levi and he ended up back in the American Hockey League.
Wheeler has been pretty accurate with his prospect takes over the past few seasons, with only a few massive misses. He is high on Fowler and believes he could one day be a top goaltender in the NHL. There is always a high probability of the development of goaltenders altering, as it is one of the most volatile positions in all of sports. However, if Wheeler is right on Fowler, he is the Canadiens' goaltender of the future. Here are some top quotes from The Athletic article, but you'll have to click beyond the paywall to see the rest of the piece.
"He’s got a legitimate shot not just to be an NHL goaltender but to be a top one, and there aren’t many goalies his age (or even a little older) I’m comfortable saying that about."
"He’s the kind of goalie who if he can see a shot and move to it, he’s going to stop it."
"Highlighted by great hands, an ability to take space away through square angles and sound positioning, high-end tracking/reads, excellent rebound control, legitimate power/movement, and a knack for making huge pad saves and stopping high-danger chances."
Internal competition for Jacob Fowler
Fowler's chances of turning pro and starting next year in Montreal looked good about a month ago when Cayden Primeau struggled and was sent to the American Hockey League. It looked like Montembeault would need a new tandem-mate as soon as next season, and Fowler would be a reliable understudy. However, the play of No. 13 on Wheeler's list has questioned that.
Jakub Dobes debuts on the list, which is a micro-cosim of his growth as a goaltender. Dobes has been on a straight-upward trajectory since his draft year, and that reached a head with his stellar debut in the NHL this season.
Wheeler describes Dobes as, " [Dobes] has moved his projection from a No. 2/3 to a No. 1B/2 with the consistency of his play over the years and his strong early showings in the NHL."
The Canadiens are in good hands with their skaters prospect pool, and with two goaltenders in the top-20 of that list, there is nowhere to go but up for the Canadiens.