Montreal Canadiens: Options For The Habs Goaltender Of The Future

The Montreal Canadiens had long been spoiled with an elite starting goaltender. Carey Price manned the crease for years and did so with his trademark calm, poised demeanour. But his career has seemingly come to a close since bowing out at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2021 Stanley Cup Final.

Without an established number-one goaltender patrolling the crease, it begs the question, who will be the next great Canadiens goaltender? Or, at the very least, who will be the next long-term starter that can help the team reach the postseason and win some playoff games?

Montembeault has done his best, and at this juncture seems to be the best bet to hold the role for the foreseeable future. But is he really a long term starting goalie of a rebuilt team, or just a stopgap option for a rebuilding team? His .901 save percentage from last season was a career high, so the 26 year old has a long way to go before he locks himself in as the starter of the future. He also needs a new contract a year from now, so he is not guaranteed to be here beyond the 2023-24 season.

Cayden Primeau is yet to prove that he can be a reliable netminder at the pro level. He has had ups and downs in the AHL but has not performed well in his several chances in the NHL.

There are a couple of prospects selected in recent drafts, that are options. Goaltending is a finicky position at the best of times, as we recently saw Jacob Markstrom go from Vezina finalist to struggling overpaid goaltender in one offseason.

So, which prospects stands out, and who has the poise and highest potential to take the reigns in the future and hold such a crucial role?

Here are three options for the Canadiens’ potential number-one starter of the future.

Jakub Dobes:

Dobes has played for Ohio State since being selected, and has put up respectable numbers. He was selected with the 136th-overall pick, during the fifth round of the 2020 NHL Draft, and has played 75 NCAA games since, posting a 42-28-5 record, with a 2.29 GAA and .926 SV%. He signed his Entry-Level Contract on March 31, 2023, which is a two-year pact, and will see him playing in the American Hockey League with the Laval Rocket starting next season.

Dobes is a big goaltender, and while he is on this list, he isn’t without faults. A season or two in Laval at minimum is certainly needed for Dobes to polish his game at the professional level. He has the tools and potential to be a great pro, but it will be largely predicated on how well he progresses. At 22 years old he is coming along nicely; as goalies are generally late bloomers, so betting on Dobes just before he enters his prime years could be of interest, but that jump from Junior or college to the pro level can be a tough transition for some goaltenders. The upcoming season will tell us a lot about Dobes future in the organization.

Jacob Fowler:

Fowler was selected in the second round of the 2023 draft, as the first of three goaltenders drafted during day two of the annual event. The Canadiens put an onus on goaltending, and rightfully so. Without a clear number-one starter, the time to stock up the cupboard was present, and Fowler looks to be a high-potential option to hold down the crease in the future. If all things go right, and Fowler’s play emulates his passion to play in front of the Centre Bell faithful, then the Habs could be in an enviable position.

Fowler had a brilliant season in the USHL with the Youngstown Phantoms, posting a 27-9-3 record, with a 2.21 G.A.A and .921 SV% and five shutouts. He then followed up his impressive regular season, showing his poise and maturity posting a 8-1-0 record, including one shutout on-route to a Clark Cup Championship win. So, while he is still growing and rounding out his game, he has proven that the championship pedigree is there, and he will hone his craft in the NCAA with Boston College where he could quickly develop a rivalry with fellow prospect Lane Hutson who is at Boston University.