Jakub Dobes: at least as promising as Jacob Fowler

The Canadiens’ training camp takes another step forward tonight as the team plays its first preparatory game. Patrik Laine and the Habs welcome Matvei Michkov, Sean Couturier and the Flyers to the Bell Centre. Tickets are still available for under $50 on various resale sites…

Over the next few days, it will be interesting to see which young defenseman can make the club between Logan Mailloux and Lane Hutson. Because I have a feeling that only one of these two youngsters will start the campaign with the big club…

We’ll also be keeping an eye on Oliver Kapanen, who could surprise us and steal a chair at forward, as well as Michael Pezzetta and Alex Barré-Boulet, whose chances of starting the campaign in the NHL (and in the stands?) are real.

But in front of the net, all bets are off. All bets are off.

Barring injury, Samuel Montembeault will be the Habs ‘ #1 goaltender, assisted by Cayden Primeau.

In Laval, Jakub Dobes will be #1 goalie, with veteran Connor Hughes at his side.

Luke Cavallin and Hunter Jones are likely to be with the Lions.

In short, there really isn’t a chair to be won in front of the net…

But in two or three years, many believe that Jacob Fowler will be heating up not only Cayden Primeau, but also Samuel Montembeault in Montreal.

He just might. The guy finished his NCAA rookie season with a 2.14 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage. Those are incredible stats for a goalie in his first year of NCAA play…

But it’s worth noting that Fowler played for a boosted team(Boston College). That always helps more than playing for a moribund team.

Let’s compare Fowler’s stats to Cayden Primeau and Jakub Dobes, who also played for a top team in their first NCAA season.

NCAA rookie season:
– Jacob Fowler: .926 and 2.14
– Cayden Primeau: .931 and 1.92
– Jakub Dobes: .934 and 2.26

In short, Primeau and Dobes used to stop more pucks per 100 than Fowler.

Primeau is now #2 in the NHL and Dobes, #1 in Laval. What is Jacob Fowler’s real ceiling?

We have a strong suspicion that he’ll be good… but how good will he be? Watch out for young goalies! Some – notably Don Cherry – were calling Michael McNiven the next Carey Price…

I’ve had a chance to talk to some people close to the Habs and the Rocket. According to them, Jakub Dobes is at least as good a prospect in front of the net as Jacob Fowler is right now.