The Montreal Canadiens seem set to stick with their current group of goaltenders for now. The team has struggled mightily throughout the 2025-26 season between the pipes. In fact, only the last-placed Buffalo Sabres have allowed more goals in the current campaign than Montreal.
Despite this, Canadiens officials are unlikely to make a desperate trade in the coming days to acquire a new netminder. Instead, the team is willing to give highly-rated prospect Jacob Fowler a real shot at the job. The 21-year-old goalie was recently recalled by the club as Sam Montembeault and Jakub Dobes continue to struggle.
Fowler joined the Canadiens a little ahead of schedule. “The plan, as I understand it, was always to bring up Jacob Fowler at some point,” claims TSN’s Pierre LeBrun. “But yeah, I don’t think they thought it’d be in early December. I thought that in a perfect world, Fowler would get a taste of the NHL at some point in the second half of the season.”
LeBrun went on to say that having a starlet such as Fowler waiting in the wings buys Montreal extra time. If the youngster plays well, the Canadiens can obviously stick with him. If he shows that he is not yet ready for the NHL, Montreal can send him back to the AHL in the future and then reevaluate their options.
Montreal Canadiens Have Not Yet Given up on Sam Montembeault
GettyThe Montreal Canadiens are hopeful that Sam Montembeault can regain his 2024-25 form.
Even if Fowler fails his audition, the Canadiens could still stick with Montembeault. “They still believe in Sam Montembeault,” continued LeBrun. “It’s not like the previous three years, where he was a very durable and good goaltender, that the Habs have forgotten that. They think that’s still in there. They hope that a little reset here might help him bounce back, and that’s certainly what they need.”
The veteran netminder previously played well for the club throughout the 2024-25 season. Montembeault posted a 2.82 GAA and a .902 SV% on the campaign. Nevertheless, the goalie has not been the same since suffering a groin injury in the most recent playoffs against the Washington Capitals.
LeBrun, however, has admitted that if Montembeault does not turn things around, Montreal will be forced to make a move. If so, the Canadiens are in a solid situation to acquire a new goalie. The team currently has more cap space than other clubs needing a netminder, such as the Edmonton Oilers. They also have one of the better prospect pools in the entire NHL.
Jacob Fowler Set to Make Much-Anticipated First NHL Start
Fowler will get his first chance to impress the Canadiens on December 11. The prospect is expected to receive his first NHL start on the night against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Interestingly enough, former Montreal legends Patrick Roy and Carey Price both also made their full NHL debuts against the Penguins.
The Canadiens recalled Fowler not only because their goalie duo is struggling. The youngster is also having an outstanding season with Montreal’s AHL affiliate, Laval Rocket. In 15 appearances in 2025-26, Fowler has a .919 SV% and a 2.09 GAA. The young netminder has posted three shutouts as well.
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