The Canadiens’ goaltending picture is about to get a lot more interesting behind Jakub Dobes.
Dobes is locked in as Montreal’s starter to begin the year after his playoff run carried all the way to the Eastern Conference Final and earned him a contract extension. That part of the equation is settled. The real debate is who steps in as the backup, and that fight will play out over the next few weeks in 2026 training camp.
It’s not a small decision. In a league with an expanded 84-game schedule, two dependable goaltenders can change everything over the course of a season.
Samuel Montembeault is the veteran name in the mix. The Quebec native has handled the crease before, but his 2025-26 season went badly enough that he fell to third on the Canadiens’ depth chart. His summer work was also interrupted by two groin tears, and with a full offseason now behind him, Montreal will be hoping he can recover the quickness and confidence that once made him a steady option.
Then there’s Jacob Fowler, who brings a different kind of pressure to the conversation. The 21-year-old prospect turned in a .908 save percentage and a 2.43 goals-against average in his first professional season, and those numbers quietly outpaced Dobes’ own totals.
That doesn’t put Dobes’ No. 1 job in doubt. It does underline just how strong Fowler’s season was, even if not everyone noticed it.
The catch is simple: Fowler needs games. If the backup role in Montreal doesn’t offer enough starts, the Laval Rocket could be the place where he begins the season instead.
In Other News...
Canadiens Quiet Offseason May Be About To Change Fast
Montreals quiet offseason has started to feel a little less quiet as the Canadiens continue to be mentioned in the same breath as other Atlantic Division clubs that have already made their rosters look stronger. The sense around the team is not that a deal is done, but that general manager Kent Hughes has kept the door open to trade talks while the front office keeps searching for ways to upgrade a top-six forward group that still looks like the clearest need.
A handful of names have surfaced in the rumor mill, including Zachary Bolduc and Arber Xhekaj, which is enough to keep speculation humming even without a confirmed transaction. For a Canadiens club that has spent much of the summer waiting for the market to bring the right opportunity, the next move may come quickly if Hughes decides the fit and timing are finally there. [Read more 🡒]
Ducks Face A Tough Price If They Push For Arber Xhekaj
Arber Xhekaj keeps showing up in trade chatter for the simple reason that teams looking for defensive help notice what he brings. The Montreal defenseman has the kind of edge and presence that can appeal to a club trying to toughen up its blue line, and Anaheim has been floated as a fit if the Ducks decide to keep pushing for more depth on the back end. For Montreal, though, the broader picture matters just as much as the player itself, because any discussion of moving Xhekaj would have to make sense for a team that still sees value in what he adds.
The obstacle for Anaheim is not just whether Xhekaj is available, but whether the price is worth it while the Ducks juggle cap concerns and the need to get Cutter Gauthier signed. Even in a hypothetical framework, the ask would have to be substantial enough to interest Montreal, which is why these talks tend to circle around prospects and draft capital rather than a simple hockey trade. For now, there is no sign the Canadiens are looking to make Xhekaj available, which leaves this more as a useful reminder of his market value than a deal on the verge of happening. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Delay On Arber Xhekaj And Zach Bolduc Raises Bigger Questions
The Canadiens still have two restricted free agents waiting for contracts in Arber Xhekaj and Zachary Bolduc, and the delay has become more interesting than the usual summer paperwork. Anthony Di Marco noted that there is uncertainty not just about the terms, but also about the timeline, with Montreal still working through how it wants to handle both players as part of its roster planning.
Xhekaj and Bolduc are in very different spots, which is part of what makes the situation worth watching. Xhekajs next step appears tied to how the club values him in the depth chart, while Bolducs case carries more weight because of the way Montreal acquired him and the flexibility he brings. Until the Canadiens sort out those negotiations, there is a small but meaningful question hanging over how the organization sees each player in the bigger picture. [Read more 🡒]