Canadiens Analysis
Canadiens Goalies: The Primeau And Fowler AHL Situation
Playoff hockey is no longer on the docket for the Montreal Canadiens, but the Laval Rocket are primed for a lengthy playoff run, a situation that will necessitate a decision in regard to the team’s designated starting goalie.
Not exactly related to this piece, but any talk of what the plans are for the Rocket’s goaltending for the rest of the playoffs now? Primeau? Would Dobes be eligible? Obviously would be a bit mean to have him supplant Primeau in the playoffs.
— Allan Bradbury (@AllanBradbury) May 1, 2025
Cayden Primeau will be returned to the Rocket in the near future, which means the crease will be rather crowded, a result of signing top goaltending prospect Jacob Fowler after just two years in the NCAA.
Fowler has done well in Primeau’s absence, maintaining a .913 save percentage through three regular season games, as well as a .920 save percentage to secure Laval’s first playoff win on Wednesday night.
Jacob Fowler picks up the victory (25 saves) in his first professional game. @RocketLaval | #LAVvsSYR pic.twitter.com/OYLm48NnRZ
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) April 13, 2025
Balancing Priorities
Rocket head coach Pascal Vincent went out of his way to state Primeau was his go-to goalie once Fowler signed his amateur try-out, however, there are a few factors worth considering now that the circumstances have changed.
It’s always important to remember the most essential role for any AHL affiliate is developing players who will one day be capable of making an impact in the NHL. In that vein, it should be Fowler’s net to lose. He’s a key Canadiens prospect, and he also represents the next great hope for a dominant goalie in Montreal.
However, the priority can shift in the playoffs, where results tend to take precedence over development. After all, learning to win is also a critical factor in development.
Statistically speaking, Primeau has been the better goalie, as evidenced by his fantastic .920 save percentage, which he established alongside an impressive 21-2-2 record in the regular season. To put a fine point on his excellent play, he was arguably the best goaltender in the league.
Given that Primeau is the goalie that carried the Rocket to their best results in franchise history, don’t be surprised if Vincent decides to restore his status as the team’s starter, while also acknowledging that there’s an exceptional young goaltender waiting in the wings.
For what it’s worth, Jessika Lemay, an expert on all things Rocket, suggests it will probably be Primeau who starts the next game, but nothing is written in stone.
There will be plenty of opportunities to given Fowler professional experience in the next few seasons, and he can certainly take over should his counterpart falter, but for now, it’s fair to say Primeau deserves a chance to backstop the team as they focus on winning the Calder Cup.
As much as I believe Fowler is the real goalie of the future, you have to put Primeau back in. He’s been unreal with Laval this year. In previous playoff runs with Laval, or pushes to the playoffs, he has also been great. Having him play accomplishes a few things.
First, until Fowler gets more experience at the pro level, I think Primeau give the team the best chance to win.
Second, as much as we want Fowler to get playoff experience, we want all the other prospects (Reinbacher, Mailloux, Engstrom, Beck, Roy, Farrell, Mesar, Xhekaj, Tuch, Davidson etc) to ALSO get this playoff experience. Since Primeau likely gives them the best chance to win, he also gives ALL of these players the best chance to get more experience.
Finally, if this were a team with a ton of vets, given the developmental role of the AHL for the NHL teams, I’d say put in Fowler because a team of AHL vets understands why they’re there. But this is a YOUNG AHL team. They need to learn that experience and performance matter when it comes to ice time and deployment, and they may as well get on that page now. Primeau got them to this point, he’s earned the starter’s net. All the kids need to see that you get what you earn. That performance and effort will pay off. That nothing will just be given to you.
Now to be clear, Fowler certainly does NOT seem to be a guy who just expects stuff to be given to him, nor has he been bad at all. But Primeau has been fantastic and earned this role. Giving it to him is a great message to send to a team full of young players.
Amen to that. Saved me typing it all out. 😁
Primeau is the number one, and go with him as they will have a great backup in Fowler.
Primau has been a total professional and put the Rocket where they are right now. Montreal hasen’t managed him very well in my opinion, but he’s kept his mouth shut and his head down and let his performance speak for him. It’s not even close to keep Fowler in at this point.
Keep Fowler in. If he is the future and it playoff experience was important for all of the rookies on the big club then it’s equally as important for Fowler.
We’ve seen when NHL Primeau looks like and it’s not great. Every time he comes up he’s not ready. Every time he goes back down he looks great.
He’s 25 which is still younger for a goalie but how many more chances does he get?