Jakub Dobes didn’t waste any time making his feelings known after Martin St-Louis went with Jacob Fowler for a second straight start. He backed the call, backed his teammate, and made it clear he isn’t looking at the situation through a selfish lens.
The 25-year-old said he and Fowler get along well, and he wished the young goalie nothing but success. He also pointed to Saturday’s result as proof the decision paid off. Fowler, who started Thursday’s 5-2 loss to Nashville, came right back on Saturday against Detroit and was flawless, stopping all 30 shots in a 1-0 shootout win.
That kind of performance naturally puts pressure on the goaltending depth chart, and Dobes hasn’t been immune to it. Through three games, he’s sitting at an .856 save percentage, while Fowler turned in a perfect night on Saturday.
Even with his role under threat, Dobes kept his focus on the group around him instead of the competition in front of him. He said he enjoys having all three goalies together and likes the energy they bring to the room, especially with Samuel Montembeault on the injured list and the Canadiens’ goaltending order starting to shift.
Here’s how Dobes put it:
"It's the decision the coaches made, and I fully support it. Me and Jacob have a good relationship, so I only wish him the best. We won on Saturday, so it was obviously a good decision, he played very well."
And on having the full trio back together, he added:
"It's kind of funny to have all the three goalies back together. I feel like we missed each other a little too much. It's great to have the three goalies, I personally feel like it's more fun because we have a good energy around us, so I don't mind that we are all back together again."
Dobes may have lost a start, but he’s not letting it rattle him.
In Other News...
Canadiens Goaltending Pressure Grows After Stunning Hellebuyck Trade Rumor
Elliotte Friedmans reporting on a potential Connor Hellebuyck blockbuster has only added another layer to the goaltending chatter around the league, and it is the kind of rumor that naturally gets attention in Montreal too. According to Friedman, the Panthers reportedly floated a hefty package to the Jets for the star netminder, a sign of just how aggressively clubs continue to chase certainty in goal even after the offseason dust starts to settle.
Florida has since steadied itself with Jacob Markstrom and Akira Schmid, but Winnipegs side of the equation still feels very much open-ended. Friedman said the offer was still available as of June, which keeps the story alive and keeps the pressure on teams like the Canadiens, who are watching a market where one big move can change the complexion of the conversation fast. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Face A Tough Three-Game Week With Lineup Questions
The Canadiens are heading into a tricky three-game week with their schedule and their health both working against them. Montreal plays Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, with the first two games coming on back-to-back nights and the opener arriving on an earlier-than-usual 6:30 p.m. start before a 7:30 p.m. puck drop Wednesday and a 7 p.m. game Saturday.
At 2-2-1, the margin for error is already thin, and the lineup questions only add to the pressure on a group trying to settle in early. Florian Xhekaj, Oliver Kapanen and Mike Matheson are among the players creating uncertainty as the Canadiens try to navigate a demanding stretch without much time to reset between games. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Face A Costly Dylan Larkin Dilemma Kent Hughes Can't Ignore
Talk around Dylan Larkin has picked up again, and the asking price only reinforces why these conversations rarely go anywhere quickly. According to reports from Michael Russo and Pierre LeBrun, the Minnesota Wild would need to part with a young prospect such as Danila Yurov or Charlie Stramel to get Detroit to even consider moving their captain, while the Wild have no appetite for including an established defender like Jonas Brodin.
For Montreal, that kind of framework matters because it hints at how steep the market would be before the Canadiens even get to the hardest part of the equation. Kent Hughes can check in, but the real obstacle may be getting Larkin's side to view Montreal as the right landing spot, and until that changes, the Canadiens are stuck watching a chase that looks expensive long before it looks realistic. [Read more 🡒]