In 2010, the Montreal Canadiens found themselves in an intriguing situation with two promising young goalies vying for the spotlight. Fast forward to today, and the Canadiens are experiencing a similar dynamic with Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler.
Back then, the Canadiens had Carey Price, a fifth-overall pick with high expectations, and Jaroslav Halak, a surprising ninth-round gem. Today, Fowler and Dobes are stepping into those roles, each bringing their own unique path to the ice.
Fowler may not have been a top-five pick like Price, but his stellar collegiate career turned heads, marking him as a potential future star for the Canadiens. His NHL debut was nothing short of spectacular, with a 36-save performance leading to a 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Interestingly, Fowler joins the ranks of Canadiens legends like Ken Dryden, Patrick Roy, and Carey Price, all of whom notched their first win against the Penguins.
On the other side, Dobes’ journey mirrors Halak’s rise. Drafted in the fifth round, Dobes wasn't initially seen as the future face of the franchise.
However, his trajectory changed with a midseason call-up amid Cayden Primeau's struggles. Dobes seized the opportunity, delivering a stunning 34-save shutout in his NHL debut and winning his first five career starts, a feat only thirteen goalies have achieved.
The Canadiens’ current tandem, much like Price and Halak, emerged through necessity and opportunity. Dobes began the season backing up Samuel Montembeault, while Fowler was set to develop with the Laval Rocket. But Montembeault's struggles led the Canadiens to rely on their young duo.
Both Dobes and Fowler have shone brightly since taking the reins. Dobes boasts a 26-8-4 record with a 2.73 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage.
His recent hot streak earned him the NHL's first star of the week, thanks to a 3-0 run with a 1.33 goals-against average and a .962 save percentage. Fowler, fresh off his collegiate career, has posted a 7-5-2 record with a 2.59 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage.
The debate about who will ultimately become the Canadiens’ top goalie is already underway. However, with the NHL evolving away from the era of workhorse goalies, the focus might shift. Instead of choosing a definitive number one, the Canadiens could embrace a tandem approach, leveraging the strengths of both Dobes and Fowler to create a formidable duo for the future.