Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
Everyone knows that the three-goalie rotation is not going to last very long with the Montreal Canadiens.
So the question becomes what general manager Kent Hughes will eventually do, and on that front, we may have a possible clue.
Patrick Guillet spots a possible clue regarding the sending down of young goaltender Jacob Fowler to the Laval Rocket
On Monday at Place Bell, Jacob Fowler was still featured in the Rocket’s pregame video. Patrick Guillet noticed it: even though Fowler is with the Canadiens, his face is still part of the montage.
That said, a pregame video is not an official lineup. Often, this type of montage is prepared in advance and stays in place for a few games (although it’s starting to be a while since Fowler was no longer there).
The Rocket also wants to maintain a stable image for its crowd, even when a player is going back and forth. In short, as a clue it’s intriguing, but it’s not proof either.
“I noticed yesterday at Place Bell that Jacob Fowler is still part of the Rocket’s pregame videos even though he’s currently with the Canadiens.
Could this be a sign of a possible return to Laval if Samuel Montembeault regains his form?”
– Patrick Guillet
The reality is that Fowler is 21 years old, he is still waiver-exempt, and he can be sent down to Laval without risk. With the Rocket this season, he has posted a 10-5-0 record, with a 2.09 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage.
And with the Canadiens, he has already played six games, with a 3-1-2 record, a 2.64 goals-against average, a .904 save percentage, and one shutout.
Samuel Montembeault, meanwhile, is back in the picture, and that changes the dynamic. He is 29 years old and his contract keeps him in Montreal with a cap hit of $3.15 million per season.
His 2025-2026 numbers have generated plenty of discussion, with 15 games played, a 3.65 goals-against average, and a .857 save percentage.
During his conditioning stint in Laval, he played two games and posted a 2.53 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage. If Montembeault finds his game again and strings together two strong starts, the organization will want clarity.
In that scenario, the most logical move is to give Fowler games in Laval again, rather than keeping him on the bench in Montreal.
The Rocket video may be a small clue, but the decision will ultimately be driven by game results and waiver management.
Previously on Montreal Hockey Fanatics