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Martin St-Louis sends clear message to Kent Hughes about Jacob Fowler after shutout win
Photo credit: Habsfanatics/NHL
Martin St-Louis did not choose his words randomly after the game against Pittsburgh. The message was direct and hard to ignore for Kent Hughes.
Speaking about Jacob Fowler, the head coach highlighted his calmness, his posture, and his maturity.
He even went as far as to say that he would claim Fowler has been ready to be an NHL goaltender for quite some time now. Wow.
Martin St-Louis on Jacob Fowler:
"The way he carries himself, it seems like he's been ready for this [the NHL] for a long time."
- Via Priyanta Emrith
"The way he carries himself, it seems like he's been ready for this [the NHL] for a long time."
- Via Priyanta Emrith
This comment comes in a very specific context.
Fowler has just recorded his first NHL shutout, against the Pittsburgh Penguins no less, turning aside 31 shots.
That kind of performance quickly changes internal discussions. Especially when it's backed by such a strong message from the coach in front of the media.
St-Louis is not talking about a simple good game. He's talking about a goaltender who already carries himself like an established professional in the league.
It certainly looks like Martin St-Louis wants Jacob Fowler to stay in the NHL for a good while
The signal sent to Kent Hughes is clear. Sending Fowler back to the Laval Rocket after such comments would become a decision that's difficult to justify from a hockey standpoint.
The Habs aren't pressed by the calendar, but the hierarchy in goal now deserves an honest reassessment.
Fowler has shown that he can handle the pressure. St-Louis also seems to value the message sent to the locker room. When a young player performs and stays put, meritocracy truly takes on its full meaning.
In the short term, keeping Fowler with the big club would provide a credible option, without unnecessarily rushing his development.
The goaltender looks neither overwhelmed nor intimidated.
Kent Hughes will have to make a call, but the tone has been set. The coach genuinely believes that Fowler is ready to be a regular NHL goaltender.
It's not every day that a coach speaks this clearly.
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