The Montreal Canadiens are about to lock up one of hockey’s most exciting young goalies. Jacob Fowler is expected to sign a three-year deal with the team on Friday, starting in the 2025-26 season.
The news has been making waves in hockey circles, with multiple insiders confirming the upcoming announcement.
After he signs, Fowler will likely finish this season with the Laval Rocket in the AHL on a tryout agreement.
What makes this 19-year-old so special? For starters, he’s been breaking records since he first stepped on the ice.
Despite coming from two lesser-known Florida youth programs, Fowler exploded onto the scene in the USHL with the Youngstown Phantoms. In his first 18 games, he put up an incredible .927 save percentage – the best ever by an under-18 goalie in league history.
But that was just the beginning.
The following season, Fowler became a local hero in Youngstown. He led the Phantoms to their first-ever Clark Cup Championship with a mind-blowing .952 save percentage in the playoffs. No surprise, he took home both Goalie of the Year and Playoff MVP honors.
The Canadiens snagged him with the 69th pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, making him the sixth goalie selected that year.
Since then, Fowler’s star has only risen brighter at Boston College. As a freshman, he’s been nothing short of spectacular – posting a 32-6-1 record with a .926 save percentage in 39 games.
He’s in elite company too. Fowler became the first freshman to win Hockey East Goaltender of the Year since Cayden Primeau did it in 2017-18. Before that? Only NHL stars Connor Hellebuyck and Thatcher Demko had managed the feat as freshmen.
Now, he’s about to become just the third goalie from his draft class to sign an NHL contract. For Canadiens fans looking for their next star between the pipes, the future’s looking pretty bright.
