Canadiens & Jacob Fowler: Patience Wins the Race

For Montreal Canadiens fans watching this early-season skid, it’s easy to blame the goalies. Shots are sneaking through at the wrong moments, games are slipping by, and the conversation in Montreal has shifted quietly, almost conspiratorially, to the crease. Although there’s some debate about what the Canadiens’ real issue is, sometimes the goalies are pointed to as a problem.

In a recent interview on the FAN Hockey Show, Elliotte Friedman shared that the Canadiens are not panicking. They’re asking questions—taking stock, watching the goalie market, measuring the wobble. And in the back of every Habs’ fan’s mind, a name keeps floating to the surface: Jacob Fowler. The kid has promise, and Montreal knows it.

But promise and readiness might not be the same thing. And that’s exactly the tension the Habs front office has to navigate.

Two Reasons to Consider Bringing Up Fowler Now

There are two reasons why bringing up Fowler now might be an answer to the Canadiens’ question.

Reason 1. There Has Been a Slump in the Canadiens’ Crease

There’s no denying that the Canadiens have looked shaky in net. Every missed save, every soft rebound gets magnified in Montreal. Bringing Fowler up could offer a jolt of energy, a new presence that changes the rhythm and gives the team someone to rally around. Even a taste of NHL action could accelerate his learning curve, letting him see the pace, the angles, the split-second decisions that practice alone can’t replicate.

Reason 2. Bringing Up Fowler Would Offer the Canadiens Internal Development Flexibility

Fowler’s promotion could also signal that Montreal is willing to solve problems internally, rather than rush to the trade market or swing for a quick fix. It sends a message to the locker room and to fans alike: we trust our system, we trust our prospects, and we’re willing to give the next generation its moment. Sometimes the optics alone can steady a shaky environment.

Two Reasons to Hold Off on Bringing Up Fowler Now

There are also reasons against bringing up Fowler now. Here are two:

Reason 1. The Canadiens Know that Rushing a Young Goalie is Risky

Fowler was never slated for a mid-season NHL debut. Jeff Gorton and the front office have a long history of protecting goalie development. Putting Fowler in the spotlight too soon could backfire, creating pressure that stunts his growth rather than helps it. A young goalie thrown into emergency duty often learns the wrong lessons at the wrong time.

Reason 2. The Canadiens Should Trust the Veterans They Have

Sam Montembeault and Jakub Dobes still offer the Habs a foundation. Even a wobble-prone veteran can stabilize when played carefully, and Montreal’s system is designed to protect them. Sometimes the best move is patience: let the crease settle, let routines reassert themselves, and let the veterans guide the team through rough patches.

The Bottom Line for the Canadiens: Patience Should Win the Race

As much as Fowler excites Canadiens’ fans, the smarter play seems to be restraint. The Canadiens’ problems aren’t desperate; they’re situational. Rushing a young goalie now risks more than it helps. Trust the goalies you have, let the system work, and keep Fowler’s debut for a moment that serves his long-term growth. After all, as Montreal fans know, in the crease as in life, timing matters more than impulse.