Yesterday, we reported that Montreal Canadiens’ sniper Cole Caufield had made NHL.com’s top 10 under-25 forwards ranking, and today, it’s Jacob Fowler’s turn to make the Top 10 under-25 goaltenders ranking. We’ve been saying for years that the future was bright in Montreal, and it looks like, slowly but surely, the future is arriving.
Just like Caufield, Fowler is ranked fifth in the list behind Calder Trophy finalist and Calgary Flames netminder Dustin Wolf, Chicago Blackhawks’ Spencer Knight (who was drafted two spots before Caufield at the 2019 draft), San Jose Sharks’ Yaroslav Askarov, and Ottawa Senators’ Leevi Merilainen. Interestingly, Jakub Dobes, who’s under 25 as well and has better stats than a lot of goaltenders on the list, was ignored.
Fowler is one of only two goaltenders, alongside Trey Augustine, to make the list without having played a single game in the NHL. The latter hasn’t even signed his ELC with the Detroit Red Wings yet and will be heading back to the NCAA with Michigan State University for a fourth year, meaning the Wings will have to be patient and wait for their second-round pick at the 2023 draft to be done with school before he suits up for them.
Given Fowler’s non-existent NHL stats, his NCAA career, and his limited experience in the AHL sealed the deal. He finished his season with Boston College with a 25-7-2 record, a 1.63 goals-against average, and a .940 save percentage. The masked man also posted seven shutouts, up from three in his rookie year.
The youngster also showed a bit of a mean streak, hitting an opponent who got a bit too close to his liking with his blocker, which earned him an ejection and a one-game suspension.
Yeah, you can’t do that. Fowler was ejected pic.twitter.com/Yt68nT8dB1
— Robert Chalmers (@IvanIvanlvan) November 16, 2024
After signing his contract, the 20-year-old appeared in three regular-season games with the Laval Rocket, going 2-1-0 with a 2.32 GAA and .914 SV. He also played eight games in the postseason, going 3-3 with a 2.48 GAA and a .902 save percentage. It will be interesting to see what he can do in his first full year of professional hockey, which he is highly likely to spend with the Rocket as the number one netminder.
The question now becomes how the Canadiens do in NHL.com’s top 10 under-25 defenseman ranking. I have a slight suspicion that a certain Lane Hutson will find his way there and that he’ll be higher than fifth. Could another one make it? I expect we’ll find out in the next few hours or days…
Photo credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
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