Jacob Fowler, the promising prospect of the Montreal Canadiens, has been absolutely dominating his NCAA season with the Boston College Eagles. Over the course of this season, he has racked up impressive statistics, boasting a win-loss record of 52-11-2, nine shutouts, and averaging just 1.96 goals against with a stellar .930 save percentage.
Despite currently being only his second season, numerous experts believe Fowler has little left to prove at this amateur level. When asked if this would be his last year competing at the NCAA, Fowler previously maintained his focus on helping his team secure the Beanpot title and make deep runs through the playoffs.
“I love Montreal, but I have to focus on what's upcoming right now... I want to do everything I can to help my team achieve these goals,” Fowler said, emphasizing his commitment to his collegiate responsibilities. Yet, during recent discussions with TVA Sports, Fowler expressed new eagerness for the next step: “I think I’m ready for the professional level... I want to do it sooner rather than later.”
Once his NCAA commitments wrap up, Canadiens' general manager Kent Hughes will be able to negotiate Fowler's entry-level contract. This paves the way for the talented goaltender to join the Canadiens or potentially play some games with the Laval Rocket—a move fans are eagerly anticipating.
Meanwhile, the Canadiens are also grappling with the impact of Arber Xhekaj's recent controversial comments about Ottawa Senators’ captain Brady Tkachuk. Ahead of the encounter against the Senators, Xhekaj made it clear he intends to make the game difficult for Tkachuk. “I butt heads with him. I go right at him. I fire him up. I don't care. What I give him has to be stronger than what he gives me. I’m going to make his night difficult.”
This audacious statement was met with mixed reactions, especially after some Ottawa media outlets misrepresented his comments, thanks to dubious translations from Google Translate. Nicolas Cloutier of TVA Sports highlighted the inaccuracies and urged the bloggers involved to correct their mistakes immediately.
The matchup against the Senators has assumed extra significance with reports indicating Tkachuk might miss the game. Following Xhekaj’s remarks, it will be intriguing to see how the ice plays out if Tkachuk is sidelined from the action.
On another front, Ivan Demidov from SKA has faced frustration recently after the KHL voided his assist on the first goal of the match, attributing the play instead to Pavel Akolzin. This led to Demidov staying stagnant at 47 points for the season. SKA encountered additional hurdles as they faced the loss against their opponents 6-4, all the more frustrating for Demidov who had seen his ice time dwindle as the match went on.
Initially involved positively, Demidov's playing time diminished particularly during the second period when his team fell behind, seeing him only play 2 minutes and 46 seconds. Despite him being the leading scorer on his team, such decisions from the coaching staff can be disheartening.
Overall, these developments reflect the mix of excitement and challenges facing the Montreal Canadiens and their prospects. Fans can look forward to Fowler's imminent transition to pro hockey, ponder the potential consequences of Xhekaj's bravado, and hope for Demidov to regain his footing on the ice. Each story adds flavor to the broader narrative of the franchise, setting the stage for what promises to be an eventful year for the Canadiens.