The 2024 year was supposed to be different for the Montreal Canadiens. They believed their rebuild was starting to end, and they wondered whether 2024 would end with them looking ahead to a run at the playoffs in 2025. The year ended with a string of wins that elevated them to sixth place in the Atlantic Division, but they are still five points behind in a playoff race. This series will examine how each player performed over the 2024 calendar year. Next up is a top prospect, Jacob Fowler, who hasn't donned a Canadiens jersey to this point.
Fowler looks like the future of the Canadiens' crease. His 2024 has done nothing to quiet those expectations, as he led Boston College to the NCAA Championship game with a sterling record, and has been performing even better this season. The first half of his 2024 saw him post a 2.14 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage, while winning a Hockey East Championship and become a first-team All-American.
Those weren't the only accolades Fowler earned in 2024. He also helped lead the United States to a World Junior Gold Medal, winning all three of his games in a tandem with Trey Augustine. Fowler has been a clutch performer his entire career, and the Canadiens can only hope that it carries over to a Montreal jersey.
The second half of 2024 has been even kinder to the American-born goaltender. He is putting up unprecendented numbers at Boston College, owning a 1.73 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage with a 11-2-1 record. Fowler started last season like that too before regressing a bit when the competition got stiffer later in the year. It'll be an intriguing watch to see if he can keep it rolling through the rest of this season.
Is there a chance we see Fowler in a Canadiens jersey before the 2024-25 season ends? The Canadiens could be competing for a playoff spot if their recent form continues through the rest of the year, but if they begin to fall back, there's a chance Montreal will give him a game after the college season ends. We've seen it before in Buffalo with Devon Levi, and Fowler could follow the same trajectory.
Nevertheless, taking nothing away from Sam Montembeault, Fowler is the closest potential that Canadiens fans will see to their next Carey Price. It could be an unattainable goal for Fowler, but if his 2024 taught us anything, he is up to the challenge.