The Canadiens’ three-goalie experiment is officially on pause-for now. On Friday, Montreal reassigned goaltender Jacob Fowler and center Owen Beck to the AHL’s Laval Rocket, trimming the roster and signaling a shift in how the team plans to manage its young talent down the stretch.
Both players were part of a December call-up that also included defenseman Adam Engstrom, a response to a mix of injuries and inconsistent play that had the Habs searching for stability. Since then, the team’s health has improved, and more importantly, Samuel Montembeault has stepped up between the pipes with a string of strong performances. That left limited opportunities for Fowler, and with the rookie showing signs of fatigue in recent outings, the timing was right to get him back to Laval.
Fowler’s NHL debut was promising. In 10 starts, he posted a 2.62 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage-solid numbers for a 21-year-old getting his first taste of the big leagues. But four of his last five starts were rough, and with Montembeault locking down the crease, Fowler’s development is better served with consistent starts in the AHL.
And that’s exactly what he’s likely to get. Before his call-up, Fowler was thriving in Laval, sporting a 2.09 GAA and a .909 SV% across 15 games-good enough to earn him a nod for the upcoming AHL All-Star Game. With Kaapo Kahkonen handling most of the starts in his absence, Fowler should now slide back into his familiar role as the Rocket’s go-to netminder.
There’s also a financial silver lining for Fowler. By waiting until his 10th NHL appearance to send him down, the Canadiens ensured he maxed out his performance bonus for games played.
He had already hit the first $50,000 milestone after five games, and his start Thursday against Buffalo added another $30,000 to his rookie-year earnings. Not a bad parting gift before heading back to Laval.
As for Owen Beck, his second stint with the big club lasted longer than the first, but ice time was still hard to come by. Over 13 games, he averaged just 9:19 per night, bringing his season total to 15 NHL appearances.
Still, he made the most of it-scoring his first career NHL goal and winning over 56% of his faceoffs. For a young center trying to carve out a role, those are the kind of small victories that build trust with the coaching staff.
Back in Laval, Beck will look to rediscover his offensive rhythm. Through 22 AHL games this season, he’s managed just three goals and eight assists-a step back from the 15 goals and 29 helpers he posted as a rookie. If he can get going again offensively, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him back in Montreal before season’s end, especially if injuries pile up again.
Speaking of which, the Canadiens are currently down to 12 healthy forwards-but help could be on the way. Kirby Dach, Jake Evans, and Patrik Laine all practiced in full on Friday, and there’s a real chance one or more could return to the lineup as soon as Saturday’s game in Ottawa. With two open roster spots, Montreal has some flexibility, though a corresponding move would be needed if all three are ready to go.
There’s also a cap angle to consider. By sending Fowler and Beck back to Laval, the Canadiens are no longer using Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR) relief.
That means they’re once again banking cap space-something they were doing earlier in the season before acquiring Phillip Danault ahead of the holiday roster freeze. That extra room could come in handy for future in-season moves or to help offset performance bonuses that several of the team’s young players have already triggered or are on pace to hit.
So while the roster shuffle might look like a step back for Fowler and Beck, it’s more of a strategic reset. Both got valuable NHL experience, both showed flashes of what they can bring, and now they head back to Laval with a clearer picture of what it takes to stick at the next level. For a rebuilding team like Montreal, that kind of progress is exactly what you want to see.