G Jacob Fowler - Boston College Eagles, NCAA (2023, 69th, MTL)
- Thread starter Frk It
- Start date
Pavel Buchnevich
Drury and Laviolette Must Go
JadedRandom
Registered User
Would be great for Fowler's pro career if he returns to BC for his junior year in my opinion.
It would give him more time to work on conditioning, and improve his technique further vs. a more grueling AHL schedule.
And I really like BC's coaching staff as far as goalies are concerned, so that's another bonus.
It also lets the Canadiens have some more time to try and further evaluate their in-house options on G.
Cayden Primeau was downright putrid in the NHL to start the year, but has been a changed man in the AHL and amongst the absolute best tenders in that league since going back to Laval. He'll be the starter for the Rocket in the playoffs, and given how good he's been for them, I expect him to thrive in the playoffs for Laval.
Dobes has had a great start with Montreal in December, and has had some very strong games since, but he has cooled-off significantly since his debut and is still very much like a "wild horse" in net so maybe a bit more tempering in the AHL could do him good.
Long story short, besides Monteambeault who's more proven, both Dobes and Primeau are relatively unknown quantities at this point in time for the Canadiens so Fowler's decision to go back might benefit the organization by allowing more time to the team to try and better assess all of those guys.
And it lets Fowler further develop, so that's good too.
Unless Fowler intends to test UFA by not signing his ELC for another 2 years. That would majorly suck. No bueno sir.
I mean, the Canadiens would still have Volokhin as a low-key good goalie prospect besides Fowler in that scenario, but losing the top goalie prospect in the pipeline would still really hurt.
Hopefully just a negotiation thing, but also can't imagine Montreal caves and throws him to the wolves down the stretch, especially with each game being a must-win moving forward
wickedwitch
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- Mar 21, 2010
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If he's not going to start in the NHL (fair enough) and he's not going to start in the AHL, even next season, then why sign now? So he can go to the ECHL?
For a goalie, I don’t think he should expect to start for a team trying to make the PO. But, should be a plan to ensure he burns an elc year. Augustine has indicated he’s going back to Michigan St for a Jr season.
JT3
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- May 27, 2013
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He would probably split games in the AHL to finish the season and then playoffs would depend on who was better I imagine. Or maybe they just give it to him outright over Primeau.
Next season I would think they would arrange things for him to be the #1 in Laval.
Is that what the holdup is? Fowler wants to burn an ELC year and the Habs are balking? Just sign him and give him a couple games. Send Dobes back to Laval. I know they’re in the middle of a playoff race, but this is bigger than that. Show some faith in him - he’s their best goalie prospect by far. I think it will only help him too; it’ll give him (and the Habs) a chance to see where he’s at. If he’s not up to the task yet, he can play in Laval next season.
I have a bad feeling that if they play hardball on this, he will in fact go back to BC, and then start thinking about the loophole (AKA the Adam Fox, Jimmy Vesey route). Habs shouldn’t f*** around here.
I have a bad feeling that if they play hardball on this, he will in fact go back to BC, and then start thinking about the loophole (AKA the Adam Fox, Jimmy Vesey route). Habs shouldn’t f*** around here.
From all reports, he can't play in the NHL and AHL this season due to CBA rules. So, either he's in Laval for their PO run or he finishes the year with MTL. AHL means, no burning of elc. NHL, means burn an elc year, but no extra pro experience in the A. Habs probably want him in Laval for the experience, but he might be insisting on burning the elc year. And he'll go play in the A next season.
wickedwitch
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- Mar 21, 2010
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I'm confused by this. Didn't Caufield play in both leagues after he finished his sophomore season of college?
That’s what I’m saying. Sign him, send Dobes back to Laval, and have him spend the rest of the year with the big club, giving him a couple games. Based on how he does, they can decide if he goes to Laval or remains in MTL next season.
Pavel Buchnevich
Drury and Laviolette Must Go
The Habs would be crazy to play him in NHL games. They are in a playoff race. You don't throw a 20 year old goaltender who has never played a professional hockey game into that unless you would prefer to not make the playoffs.
He won’t be any worse than Dobes in a couple games as the backup, and if he is, well, it won’t be the end of the world.
It beats playing hardball with him, and pissing him off, then watching him leave via the loophole to become BOS, NYR, or FLA’s franchise goaltender for the next 15 years.
I know you’d love that
Pavel Buchnevich
Drury and Laviolette Must Go
I'm actually not worried about who will be our goaltender in like 5 years. I'm worried about my team making the playoffs, and if the Habs want to throw a 20 year old to the wolves, I will feel better about our chances to secure the last Wildcard spot.He won’t be any worse than Dobes in a couple games as the backup, and if he is, well, it won’t be the end of the world.
It beats playing hardball with him, and pissing him off, then watching leave via the loophole to become BOS, NYR, or FLA’s franchise goaltender for the next 15 years.
I know you’d love that
I would very much doubt that Fowler is suited to come in and do a better job than Dobes or Primeau. Look at Devon Levi. Was the same age as Fowler is now, and still was unable to stick immediately in the NHL after Buffalo gave him some immediate NHL games. Goaltenders jumping immediately to the NHL from NCAA (or CHL) isn't the same thing as forwards or defensemen doing so.
Him playing a couple games as the backup would hardly be “throwing him to the wolves”.
I never said he would; I said it’s unlikely he’d be any worse. It’s a couple games, not the whole season.
Also, Dobes has really struggled lately, might be better for him to go back down to Laval for the playoffs. As for Primeau, I honestly don’t think we’ll see him back in MTL, so he doesn’t factor into this at all, really.
He doesn’t need to “stick”. Again, it’s a couple games, and it’ll give him (and the Habs) a chance to test his mettle and see where he’s at. They can then decide what’s best for him (Laval or MTL) in terms of where he starts the year next season.
viceroy
Registered User
Those 2 struggled so much I was cool with bringing up Hughes as backup instead.
Yeah, Primeau was especially bad. He might’ve punched his ticket out of town for good.
Habitant#1
Registered User
Is it true that he only needs to play one minute of icetime in the NHL to count as a game played?
Jack Spider
Registered User
- Jun 2, 2022
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Plays 45 seconds to replace an injury at the end of game. Doesn't receive a shot. On his hockey DB you see mtl 0 games. Sounds about right.
But what if he receives a shot.
montreal
Go Habs Go
no. As soon as he signs the contract, it burns a year off his ELC no matter if he plays a minute or a second or not at all.
Habitant#1
Registered User
montreal
Go Habs Go
yes, but this is about your age when signing your ELC. Fowler is a late birth date.
