The Canadiens Sent Fowler to the AHL; He Missed The Memo

Sometimes a young player doesn't wait for the organization’s timetable. He gets an opportunity, makes the most of it, and suddenly the people running the team have a different decision to make. That’s where the Montreal Canadiens may be with Jacob Fowler.

Fowler stopped 33 of 34 shots in Montreal’s 2-1 Heritage Classic win over the Winnipeg Jets. It was his fifth straight victory, and he has allowed just one goal in each of his last two starts. Those are impressive numbers for any goalie, never mind a 21-year-old still finding his way in the NHL. But the interesting part of Fowler’s story isn't just the numbers. It’s how quickly things have changed.

The Canadiens' Original Plan Didn't Last Long.

Fowler began the season in Laval after being sent to the AHL at the end of training camp. Montreal already had Jakub Dobeš and Sam Montembeault in the picture, and there was no obvious reason to rush a young goalie’s development. Then Montembeault was injured, Fowler got his opportunity, and he started winning.

Now he has earned the Heritage Classic start ahead of Dobeš, and the conversation has changed. Instead of wondering when Fowler might be ready for a bigger NHL role, Canadiens fans are wondering how much responsibility he can handle right now. That’s a pretty good problem for a team to have.

Six Starts Don't Make a Star Just Yet.

It's tempting to look at Fowler’s record and announce that Montreal has found its goalie of the future. Maybe it has. But six starts don't tell us everything we need to know about a position that can test even experienced NHL players. There will be rough nights. Opponents will study him, the workload will change, and he'll have to learn how to respond when a few pucks get past him. That's part of being a young goalie.

The Canadiens don't need to settle the future today. They need to give Fowler a chance to keep earning his place while making sure his development doesn't depend on a winning streak lasting forever.

Let Fowler Keep Playing and Learning.

What Fowler has done is give Montreal another option — and perhaps a very important one. He has shown that the moment isn't too big for him, even on an outdoor stage with plenty of attention surrounding the game. For Canadiens fans, that's reason enough to be excited.

The best thing Montreal can do now is resist the urge to make him a saviour or a certainty. Let him play, let him learn, and see where this goes. The original plan was to give Fowler more time. He may have other ideas.