In a move that underscores their ongoing efforts to reshape the roster, the Montreal Canadiens have officially reassigned both Owen Beck, a young center, and Jacob Fowler, a promising goaltender, to Laval in the American Hockey League (AHL). This adjustment leaves the team with two vacant spots on their active roster. Speculation suggests that one of these openings could soon be filled by Kirby Dach, who is currently on Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR) due to a foot fracture, as he approaches a potential return. This insight comes from sports analyst Eric Engels of Sportsnet, who highlights this possibility.
Both Beck and Fowler have been part of the Canadiens' lineup for more than a month. They were called up from Laval on December 10 as Montreal’s management decided to lean more heavily into developing their younger players, especially after injuries to key players such as Dach, Patrik Laine, and Alex Newhook, coupled with a period of less-than-stellar goaltending performances.
Owen Beck, aged 21, has demonstrated consistent defensive prowess over the past two seasons, primarily playing in a bottom-six role during multiple game stretches. This season, he has participated in 15 NHL games, scoring his inaugural goal—an important milestone—and maintaining a solid +4 rating. Defensively, Beck is also effective at even strength, controlling 52.0% of shot attempts, which indicates a positive impact on the ice even when not scoring. He averages roughly 9 minutes and 11 seconds on the ice per game. Additionally, Beck is a reliable faceoff performer, winning 58.7% of his 75 draws, making him the team’s top faceoff specialist.
All of these statistics point to Beck establishing himself as a dependable defensive forward in the NHL—a role that many see as his immediate future. Drafted 33rd overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, Beck was initially perceived as a potential defensive cornerstone among his draft class, although questions about his offensive potential persisted. Last season, in Laval, he showcased offensive capabilities with 44 points over 64 games, indicating a promising all-around game. However, this season, his scoring has slowed, with just three goals in 22 AHL contests, totaling 11 points.
Beck was recently a healthy scratch for two consecutive games to give way to Josh Anderson, who was returning from an upper-body injury. This move made practical sense; giving Beck more consistent playing time in Laval is more beneficial for his development than sitting in Montreal’s press box, regardless of Dach's eventual return.
As for Jacob Fowler, his current demotion signifies a temporary realignment in Montreal’s goaltending setup. With a relatively light schedule remaining for the month, and the team’s next scheduled start for Fowler not until next Thursday—assuming the roster rotation remains consistent—there's a possibility he might see action in Laval in the short term.
It’s unlikely that Fowler’s assignment is a permanent change. At just 21, he has already shown why he's regarded as Montreal’s top goaltending prospect and one of the highest-potential young netminders in the league. His early NHL stats reflect promising signs: a save percentage of .902 and a goals-against average of 2.62 outperform many peers like Jakub Dobeš and Samuel Montembeault. Despite a 4-4-2 overall record, Fowler's standout performances include recording the team’s only shutout this season—stopping 31 shots against the Penguins before Christmas—and leading the team with 1.8 goals saved above expected, according to MoneyPuck. These indicators suggest that Fowler remains a crucial part of the Canadiens' future goaltending plans, and his demotion is likely a strategic move to ensure continued development.
