Fowler vs. Primeau

[DON]

4 minutes ago, Habulator said:

 Remember, it wasn't so long ago that Primeau was stopping everything in the NCAA - and was our "heir apparent". 

As Commandant mentioned before; Fowler is playing great, Primeau was very good.

And goalies are hard to guesstimate as it is and even harder to compare young ones at different NCAA programs.

So, we can 'hope' he turns out better, until he dosent.

Assume he will suit up for pro hockey in the Spring of 2026 and backstop a AHL champion like another star Hab goalie did in the 2008 playoffs.

[Commandant]

21 minutes ago, Habulator said:

I'm always just slightly amused when people anoint Fowler as our future savior. (he may well be) There is a lot of water to run under the bridge before then. Remember, it wasn't so long ago that Primeau was stopping everything in the NCAA - and was our "heir apparent". If only we had special glasses that we might see into the future...

 

Fowler is a significantly better goalie in the NCAA than Primeau ever was. 

 

Primeau was a top 5 goalie in college hockey when he was playing.

Fowler is not the same, he's likely the best goalie in the NCAA right now, and one of the best in the last decade. 

 

Fowler is at another level above where Primeau was.

 

 

That said goalies are voodoo is one of my favourite sayings, and there are no guarantees. 

 

 

[GHT120]

There has been talk that Dobeš may be back this weekend ... if he is healthy then recalling Hughes becomes an option (Dobeš needs neither to sit around as a backup nor to be rushed into NHL action) ... BUT ... while (I-M-O) the risk of losing Primeau on waivers is low, the NHL's annual Holiday Roster Freeze is set to take effect tonight at 11:59p.m., and run through 12:01 a.m. local on Dec. 28; halting all trades, loans and waiver activity ... so Primeau's roster spot is likely safe at least until they Play Florida on the 28th.

[Butterface]

Here I was thinking Fowler would be in Laval next year.

 

Has anyone heard he won’t ? Or he will ? Or where he’s likely to be ?

[GHT120]

Just now, Butterface said:

Here I was thinking Fowler would be in Laval next year.

 

Has anyone heard he won’t ? Or he will ? Or where he’s likely to be ?

Doubt anything becomes clear about that until near the end of the NCAA season ... FOWLER needs to decide if he is ready/wants to leave school ... ***IF*** he does then the Habs need to sign him.

[DON]

13 minutes ago, GHT120 said:

Doubt anything becomes clear about that until near the end of the NCAA season ... FOWLER needs to decide if he is ready/wants to leave school ... ***IF*** he does then the Habs need to sign him.

He playing another year, we can hope.

[Butterface]

I was going off this article and another …

 

https://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/hockey/hockey-inside-out/article567305.html

 

Nothing is in stone though.

[Prime Minister Koivu]

Money Pucks worst goalie rankings and Primeau is 4th worst in the league and his stats are really poor. 
 

I would be shocked if Primeau finishes the season in Montreal. 
 

 

[tomh009]

It's actually worse if you look at GSAx/60, which effectively looks at how many goals saved (allowed) per game. This is filtered for goalies that have played at least six games (about 20%).

 

[Prime Minister Koivu]

44 minutes ago, tomh009 said:

It's actually worse if you look at GSAx/60, which effectively looks at how many goals saved (allowed) per game. This is filtered for goalies that have played at least six games (about 20%).

 

BRUTAL

[Butterface]

#$&@ me if I’m wrong, but we have had 22 players on the roster throughout most of this year, no ? 
 

Could we not just bring up a third goalie and not risk Primeau on waivers ?

 

I’ve had several rum already … so my judgement might be impaired.

[GHT120]

19 minutes ago, Butterface said:

#$&@ me if I’m wrong, but we have had 22 players on the roster throughout most of this year, no ? 
 

Could we not just bring up a third goalie and not risk Primeau on waivers ?

 

I’ve had several rum already … so my judgement might be impaired.

Habs are in LTIR, but apparently would like to get out of it ... adding a 3rd goalie salary makes that slightly more difficult ... besides, while I doubt Primeau gets claimed would losing him on waivers REALLY be a problem?

[Butterface]

7 minutes ago, GHT120 said:

Habs are in LTIR, but apparently would like to get out of it ... adding a 3rd goalie salary makes that slightly more difficult ... besides, while I doubt Primeau gets claimed would losing him on waivers REALLY be a problem?

No, no problem… .. I don’t watch Laval, but I assume they had a back up (behind Hughes) when Dobes was hurt…. So I assume it doesn’t put a strain on our goalie depth… unless there is a strain lower down the line somewhere…ECHL or in the co-ed bantam peewee Cape Breton league… sorry, I’ve ingested rum 

[Commandant]

5 minutes ago, Butterface said:

No, no problem… .. I don’t watch Laval, but I assume they had a back up (behind Hughes) when Dobes was hurt…. So I assume it doesn’t put a strain on our goalie depth… unless there is a strain lower down the line somewhere…ECHL or in the co-ed bantam peewee Cape Breton league… sorry, I’ve ingested rum 

 

Habs absolutely hated carrying three goalies last year.  Its very hard for practicing, getting goalies games, etc.  I highly doubt they do this long term after all the talk last year about both the coaches and the goalies finding it really difficult.

[dlbalr]

53 minutes ago, GHT120 said:

Habs are in LTIR, but apparently would like to get out of it ... adding a 3rd goalie salary makes that slightly more difficult ... besides, while I doubt Primeau gets claimed would losing him on waivers REALLY be a problem?

 

While they're in LTIR, it's not a huge deal as long as they dropped back to two goalies once they got close enough to get out of LTIR.  That said, with the Carrier trade, they're nowhere close to getting out of it again.

[Butterface]

1 hour ago, Commandant said:

 

Habs absolutely hated carrying three goalies last year.  Its very hard for practicing, getting goalies games, etc.  I highly doubt they do this long term after all the talk last year about both the coaches and the goalies finding it really difficult.

I was thinking if you’re not playing Primeau, bring Dobes (or Hughes) up for the odd game… esp back to backs after the holidays… so not a constant 3 up… just when there is a need to rest Monty. Primeau can sit in the stands.

 

But if we have the depth to lose Primeau, waive him down.

 

 

[Commandant]

2 hours ago, Butterface said:

I was thinking if you’re not playing Primeau, bring Dobes (or Hughes) up for the odd game… esp back to backs after the holidays… so not a constant 3 up… just when there is a need to rest Monty. Primeau can sit in the stands.

 

But if we have the depth to lose Primeau, waive him down.

 

 

 

I think there will come a point they try Hughes, but Dobes is clearly not NHL ready.  Hughes, might but again, its hard to say without him actually doing it.  

If Hughes can't cut it, they will need a trade. 

[Butterface]

12 hours ago, Commandant said:

 

I think there will come a point they try Hughes, but Dobes is clearly not NHL ready.  Hughes, might but again, its hard to say without him actually doing it.  

If Hughes can't cut it, they will need a trade. 

Maybe he isn’t NHL ready.. I don’t watch Rocket games…

 

I think we should give both the Rockets goalies a few games up to see what we’ve got. They are both due new contracts for next year.

 

If Fowler is coming next year, we have to clear the runway for him… 

 

It would be nice to have all the information possible before determining how we guard the crease. Monty has been turning it on since he was selected for 4 nations. Monty is the man for next 3-4 years… but what are we doing with next three spots deep ?

[Commandant]

Fowler needs AHL time.

 

There are enough AHL games (especially back to backs) for two goalies and he can split with Dobes.

 

Neither Dobes or Fowler need to sit on the bench in Montreal.  In Laval you can 1a/1b goalies as the AHL schedule has a lot of friday/saturday or saturday/sunday games.  Sometimes they even play 3 in a row (though this was more common about 10 years ago than now)

 

As for backup.  Clearly Primeau isnt trusted and i highly doubt he is back next season.  They need to know if Hughes is good enough or if a vet backup will be a trade or offseason signing.

[Butterface]

13 minutes ago, Commandant said:

Fowler needs AHL time.

 

There are enough AHL games (especially back to backs) for two goalies and he can split with Dobes.

 

Neither Dobes or Fowler need to sit on the bench in Montreal.  In Laval you can 1a/1b goalies as the AHL schedule has a lot of friday/saturday or saturday/sunday games.  Sometimes they even play 3 in a row (though this was more common about 10 years ago than now)

 

As for backup.  Clearly Primeau isnt trusted and i highly doubt he is back next season.  They need to know if Hughes is good enough or if a vet backup will be a trade or offseason signing.

okay… thanks. So I should expect to be switching out Dobes on my spreadsheet next year part way through the summer… he stays in Laval

 

Wont Dobes have to clear waivers next season ? 

[tomh009]

42 minutes ago, Butterface said:

Wont Dobes have to clear waivers next season ? 

He’ll be 24 next season and less than two years since signing the contract so he should still be exempt.

[dlbalr]

46 minutes ago, Butterface said:

Wont Dobes have to clear waivers next season ? 

 

He's exempt for a while, actually.  Through 26-27 or until 60 NHL GP.  I maintain a waiver tracker on the main site with this info if you're interested: https://www.habsworld.net/2016/10/canadiens-waiver-chart/

[Butterface]

 

17 minutes ago, tomh009 said:

He’ll be 24 next season and less than two years since signing the contract so he should still be exempt.

Ok good. I see two year ELCs and three year ELCs (on various players). Saw Dobes was an RFA next year and assumed he would not be exempt. 

[Butterface]

4 minutes ago, dlbalr said:

 

He's exempt for a while, actually.  Through 26-27 or until 60 NHL GP.  I maintain a waiver tracker on the main site with this info if you're interested: https://www.habsworld.net/2016/10/canadiens-waiver-chart/

Ok thanks.. I should open my eyes more 😆

[DON]

Shouldnt the Habs push, suggest, hint... for another year in NCAA vs the AHL?

Didnt Primeau leave early which ended up leading to the waiver issue last year?

 

 

Hickey: Keep your hopes in check for Canadiens goalie prospects | Montreal Gazette

 

"He has the best record in U.S. college hockey but has the same save percentage and a slightly higher goals-against average than Montrealer Liam Soulière, the goaltender for No. 3 Michigan. If you’ve never heard of Soulière, it’s because he’s nobody’s idea of an NHL prospect."

 

"Montembeault has won 10 of his 25 starts but seven of those wins have been against teams not currently in a playoff spot. Two of his three shutouts have been against offensive powerhouses Toronto and Edmonton but he is 3-9 against playoff teams."