Have the Canadiens found their goaltending tandem of the future?

The emergence of Jakub Dobes has been a pleasant surprise for the Canadiens. Called up from Laval to stabilize the backup goaltender position, Dobes immediately made an impact, winning five of his first six career starts. His strong play has given Montreal a reliable option behind Sam Montembeault, and if he continues on this trajectory, he could carve out a long-term role with the team.

However, Dobes is not the only young netminder Canadiens fans should be excited about.

Jacob Fowler is a rising star

Jacob Fowler has been putting on a show for Boston College, making his eventual debut with the Canadiens organization highly anticipated. His performance this season has been nothing short of spectacular, and the numbers back it up. Fowler’s 1.63 goals-against average ranks fourth in Division I, while his .938 save percentage is sixth-best. Perhaps most impressively, he has won 17 of his 22 starts while recording six shutouts.

The Canadiens selected Fowler in the third round of the 2023 NHL Draft, making him the sixth goaltender taken and the first of three goalies drafted by Montreal that year (alongside Quentin Miller and Yevgeni Volokhin). However, Fowler has quickly emerged as the standout of the group. His dominant performances have even drawn comparisons to legendary netminder Dominik Hasek from former NHL defenseman Ryan Whitney.

Fowler remains unsigned by the Canadiens, but at 20 years old and in his second NCAA season, contract discussions may not be far off.

A Potential Goaltending Tandem in the Making?

Fowler is certainly a key piece of Montreal’s long-term goaltending plans, but few expected him to be this good this soon. His stock continues to rise with every impressive performance, making him a legitimate contender for the team’s future No. 1 role.

That said, Dobes has already shown promise at the NHL level, giving him the upper hand for now. While Fowler’s potential is undeniable, Dobes has the advantage of professional experience, making for an intriguing competition in the years to come.

Neither goaltender is a finished product, and patience will be key for Canadiens management. Fortunately, there’s no rush. Montembeault has been a dependable starter, but at 28 years old, his peak years are numbered. Eventually, the Canadiens will need to give their young goaltenders a shot at owning the crease.

With Dobes proving himself in the NHL and Fowler generating hype with his dominant NCAA performances, the two could form an elite goaltending tandem sooner rather than later. No matter when Montreal lets them battle for the net, the plan is certainly on track. It looks like the Canadiens may have found their goaltending duo of the future.