With Jacob Fowler signed, what should we expect deployment-wise?

Kent Hughes and Jacob Fowler sat down and put pen to paper on a couple of contracts, now for the next step - his first start?

After torching the NCAA ranks between the pipes for the Boston College Eagles for two years, Fowler's college career has come to an end. With 74 games under his belt, the Florida native boasts an impressive 57-13-3 record. To say he is confident would be an understatement.

According to the Laval Rocket X profile, Fowler will practice with the Rocket for the first time on Wednesday, April 9.

In the mean time, Fowler took to the ice to practice with the Canadiens for the first time at their practice facility in Brossard, QC. Fowler shed his BC mask, but the pads are the same ones he sported in the NCAA. One set of them anyway, as he also sported a maroon/burgundy pair.

Fowler faced a couple of Joshua Roy shots, as the healthy scratch got to shoot on a goalie. My question is, if Fowler practice with the Rocket on Wednesday. How soon does he get a start with the club?

It's a good question - two reasons stand out to me. One is how much does Pascal Vincent intend to use Fowler during the playoffs? If any starts is the answer, then it would be wise to give him some games before the playoffs. He is fresh out of a college playoff atmosphere.

The time to start him is now. But you also have to consider that Vincent doesn't want to mess with the winning formula which has been quite successful. The Rocket sit atop the AHL standings, and Cayden Primeau has been on fire. Even Connor Hughes has had limited starts.

Second reason - Who is the odd man out? Is there not one, and all three goaltenders split starts?

Who knows, I do know that Fowler is ready to play right now, and starting him soon would be wise. The Rocket have five games on the schedule after April 9th. Of those five games, four of them are back-to-backs on the 11th and 12th, and the 18th and 19th.

I would hope that with the Rocket clinched, they can let Fowler play two out of the four games during the weekend's. And I would also think giving him the start on the 16th against Belleville could be a nice start lead-up for one of the game against the Senators on the weekend.

The additional core pieces are almost all in place

With Fowler in the fold, just Michael Hage and Ivan Demidov, have yet to sign with the Canadiens.

Demidov is likely to sign as soon as his KHL contract expires on May 31, while Hage is going to return for his sophomore season with Michigan. Hage was good but there are some things that he will iron out over the summer, in anticipation for a breakout season with the Wolverines.

Hage has all the talent, and skills to develop into the perfect No. 2 centre for the Habs for the next 10-15 years. He is also very deceptive with the puck on his stick, creating mismatches with his puck handles all over the ice. In the offensive zone, if he has the opportunity, his shot has the pop to beat goalies from anywhere between the faceoff dots.

With added strength in his core, and lower body, Hage could become a 30-goal, 30-assist threat in the NCAA next season. That kind of production, along with improved defensive tendencies and processing, ensure that he makes the jump directly from college to the NHL.

The former is doing his best to ensure that his season is spent in the KHL, none of this MHL playoff deployment. So long as Demidov is in the KHL, we will continue to see him elevate his play.

Today against Dynamo Moscow with his club down three games to one in the first round of the Gagarin Cup playoffs, Demidov had a brilliant game. Montreal fifth overall pick in 2024, scored a goal and an assist and had a goal called back because of goaltender interference. You see the vision and the elite shot - leveraging a great blend of deception, quick release, and an innate ability to change the angle at the last second.

David Reinbacher has been slowly introduced back into the Laval Rocket lineup, after suffering an awkward injury during the Montreal Canadiens preseason. He made his season debut and has looked the part of a top-pairing, minute-munching offensive defenseman, with an elite defensive mind, and great instincts.

Reinbacher patrols the blueline with poise, and smooth strides, but make no mistake, he is also a very swift skater, making me think he would fit beautifully with Kaiden Guhle. However, Lane Hutson is the top pair lefty, so Reinbacher with Guhle makes a lot of sense. Reinbacher also has a cannon of a slapshot and could be a power play weapon - à la Shea Weber - not quite as ferocious, but the frame and big shot evoke memories of No. 6 on the Habs blueline.

To me, once these guys are all on the Habs active roster, that is when we will truly have an idea of what this team is all about. With the entire core intact, and opportunity to beef up at the draft in June, with two top 20-32 range picks. Regardless of Hughes trades them, trades one, or uses both picks, he, and his scouting staff have got it under control.

Read the names above if you don't agree, and also remember that the Laval Rocket look fantastic this season - take a look at their roster.