The Montréal Canadiens absolutely hit the jackpot last season with Jakub Dobes between the pipes. Only Jordan Binnington and Ron Hextall have won seven of nine games on the road through their first playoff series experiences, and Dobes joined that list this past season. His goaltending was instrumental in the success the Canadiens had last season, with some even likening his play to Canadiens legend Carey Price.
For the Canadiens in 2027, the biggest question is whether or not Dobes will be able to repeat what he achieved last season. It seems that the team knows that and has prepared accordingly.
Jakub Dobes' incredible season
After a strong debut season for Dobes, one that was split between the AHL and the NHL, Dobes earned another shot with the Canadiens. The team offered him a two year deal, and when Montembeault went down with injury, Dobes assumed the crease. He was named the third start of the month in October. But he struggled through the fall, and was under utilized through the middle of the season.
But from March onward, Dobes, who resumed his role as the starter, never looked back. He won five straight games towards the end of March, earning the NHL's first star of the week. His run continued into the playoffs, carrying the Canadiens through to the conference finals, where the team ultimately lost to the future Stanley Cup champions. During this time, the Montréal Canadiens offense faltered, needing Dobes to step up more than ever.
Dobes was named to the NHL All-Rookie team and was fourth in Calder Trophy voting for Rookie of the Year. He ranked in the top 10 goaltenders in the league on NHL Network's off-season goaltending list. Most importantly, the Montréal Canadiens offered him a three year extension, signing him through 2030.
But can he replicate this success in 2026-27?
The Canadiens' goaltending situation
Obviously, a three-year contract extension means that the Canadiens are hoping that Dobes will be able to recreate his fantastic rookie season and give them the goaltender they've been looking for since Carey Price. And yet, they still have three NHL caliber goaltenders on the roster going into training camp.
One of the goaltenders is Sam Montembeault who has been one of the Canadiens' attempts to solve the Carey Price loss in the last few years. He played the majority of Canadiens' games in 2024-25, but really hasn't been consistent enough to hold down the net. Despite the team's obvious lack of confidence in Montembeault, they haven't moved on from him. He likely would be a solid backup goaltender for Dobes, if it weren't for Jacob Fowler.
Fowler, who was ranked by the Daily Faceoff as the top goaltending prospect in the league, is ready and waiting to take his spot in the Montréal Canadiens' crease. In his 17 starts last season for the Canadiens, many of them coming during Dobes' low period, he won nine games and lost six, with a 0.908 save percentage and a 2.43 goals-against average. For Dobes, it might feel like there isn't much space to mess up before Fowler takes over the starting role.
However, for Habs fans, this may be the best case scenario. While trading Montembeault may help to clear out some of the goaltending backlog, having him and Fowler ready to step in helps to guard against a potential sophomore season flop for Dobes. If he can't get it done, the Canadiens know they've got two guys who can, at the very least, salvage a few wins while they decide what to do next.
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