Canadiens Jacob Fowler Is Squarely in the Calder Conversation?

When the Season Began, Fowler Wasn’t Central to the Calder Talk

Nobody had Jacob Fowler on their Calder list before the season. Everyone was talking about Gavin McKenna, Anton Frondell, Ivar Stenberg and the other shiny rookies. Now he’s 6-1 through seven games for Montreal, and he’s firmly in the mix.

On the Fan Hockey Show, Eric Engels pointed out that this isn’t some random hot streak. People who’ve watched Fowler at every level keep saying the same thing: this is just who he is. He was also the best goalie in the league by goals saved above expected from the trade deadline through the playoffs last year, so the hot start isn’t coming out of nowhere.

Don’t expect these numbers all year, though. Engels was upfront that nobody should be pencilling in a Vezina season just yet. But he did say that if Fowler keeps playing at this pace and gets enough starts, he could end up in that conversation too.

Fowler Wasn’t Set to Play in the NHL This Season, Then an Injury

The funny part is how he got the job. He started the year in the AHL because the Habs didn’t want to carry three goalies. Then Samuel Montembeault had a great camp, got hurt right before his first start, and Fowler got the call. He’s made the most of it.

People are already comparing him to Carey Price because of how calm he looks in net. Engels thinks that’s a good compliment but the wrong lesson. The calm is nice, and teammates feed off it, but the real thing that works for Fowler is that he’s just himself.

If Dobes Can Get His Game Back, the Canadiens Have Great Goalie Play

That brings us to Jakub Dobes. Engels’ point is that Dobes shouldn’t try to be Fowler. He should be the guy who got him here. The way he sees it, you need two goalies in this league. Last year’s busiest goalie played 64 games, which means somebody else played about 18. Most teams run roughly a two-to-one split.

So Dobes needs to find his game, because right now Fowler is playing like the best goalie in the league. We’ll see if it lasts.

For now, Fowler is the real deal as a Calder candidate. After seven games, that’s pretty clear.

Related: Maple Leafs Scouts in the Stands Doesn’t Mean a Big Trade