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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jun 29, 2023 10:55:08 GMT -5
USHL goalie of the year. After the run of goalies in round two, I hoped he would still be around with this pick.
Nice pickup, as he is a very good goalie prospect.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jun 29, 2023 11:19:03 GMT -5
He is committed to Boston College, which is also getting that whole USA NTDP top line of Smith, Leonard and Perreault in their incoming class. They could be a very fun team to watch. Gets to play a lot against cross town rivals at BU: Hutson and Tuch.
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Post by Andrew on Jun 29, 2023 11:25:17 GMT -5
Where do you think he sits in the team USA depth chart for the WJC? Any chance he’ll challenge for a spot either this year or next?
Also, the kid has some work to do on his conditioning by the looks of it.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jun 29, 2023 11:26:06 GMT -5
He has family in Quebec. Cool story.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jun 29, 2023 11:28:22 GMT -5
Where do you think he sits in the team USA depth chart for the WJC? Any chance he’ll challenge for a spot either this year or next? Also, the kid has some work to do on his conditioning by the looks of it. Probably right behind Augustine who likely gets the edge mainly because of his history with the NTDP and U18 team. I think he is likely closer to a 1a/1b from a talent perspective. He had a huge USHL playoffs and won a championship with Youngstown. He was also named the Clark Cup most outstanding player (playoff MVP) to go along with his league goalie of the year award. |
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Post by seventeen on Jun 29, 2023 11:40:32 GMT -5
Wasn’t picked earlier because in goalie terms he’s considered small at 6’1”. You have to fill the net these days (mostly).
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Post by folatre on Jun 29, 2023 11:51:02 GMT -5
Going into the draft, I was really hoping for Hrabal. This kid Fowler sounds like an interesting goalie with athleticism and competitiveness.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jun 29, 2023 11:59:50 GMT -5
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Post by drkcloud on Jun 29, 2023 12:14:50 GMT -5
He has family in Quebec. Cool story. He sure comes across as smart, mature and confident. Very well spoken and grounded. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jun 29, 2023 13:06:14 GMT -5
69th Overall – G Jacob Fowler, Youngstown (USHL)
After five goalies went off the board in the second round, the Habs dipped a bit deeper into their list and picked up Fowler, a Boston College commit. There are concerns about his weight but going the college route will give him a chance to gradually fix that issue.
Bio
Goalie
Catches: Left
DOB: Nov. 4, 2004 – Melbourne, FL
Height: 6’1
Weight: 201 lbs
Scouting Reports
HockeyProspect.com: Fowler is more of a technician than a high end athlete. He merges his mechanics with a high level of poise. He’s able to remain quiet but effective because of his mental game and his anticipation. He uses his stick as part of his save process…which is a little bit rare these days for a more technical-style goalie at his age. Arguably his best quality is understanding when he needs to stay up right on plays that are in close proximity to his post. Staying composed, staying upright in his standing post integration or when in his set stance, and timing shots correctly as the foundation of his game.
DraftPro Hockey: Controls rebounds consistently. Active with his stick, not afraid to play the puck or utilize his stick to deflect passes coming into dangerous areas. Quick, precise movements on his slides into the butterfly. Anticipates plays happening with keen awareness and focus of things happening around him. Keeps his composure and re-focuses quickly after a goal goes in. Positionally sound and square to the puck, rarely gives up goals because he is out of position. He can challenge the shooters more, plays too deep in the net at times. Footwork is average, can still improve his agility in that area. Reflexes on rebounds and flexibility to make the second and third saves on low shots is excellent.
Elite Prospects: Fowler’s explosive lateral movement is the first thing that jumps out at most scouts. It’s easy to marvel at the overall strength that he pushes with. This is a testament to his physical training, but also to the confidence he has in his positioning. He doesn’t normally set up aggressively in terms of his depth, but he is aggressive in his approach. He’s not afraid to hone in on a shooter and leave more room at the back door because he feels like he can cover that area with the strength that he possesses. With some adjustments to his approach and the added overall game experience that he will receive in NCAA, he could be one of the biggest names to come out of this draft class.
Future Considerations: Fowler plays fairly deep in his crease, resulting in quick lateral movements over shorter distances. He approaches hisposts with control, employing his RVH only when threats are present, and displaying great patience and foot-holding when the puck is in a more perimeter location. Fowler’s anticipation and patience allow him to remain in control and let shooters make the first move before reacting. His rebound control on both wings and low shots to the pads is commendable, and he tracks the puck well through traffic without sacrificing positioning. His combination of controlled movements, strong positioning, and excellent puck tracking make him a promising prospect. Fowler is a player to watch closely, with the potential to be among the early goaltending selections.
Corey Pronman, The Athletic: Fowler is very athletic and has strong technique and hockey sense. He’s able to make a lot of tough saves, and does so while in control of his body. Fowler makes a lot of the difficult stops, while also being a dialed-in goalie who doesn’t let the soft goals in. He checks every box except his frame at 6-foot-1. I’ve questioned during the season whether he was special enough at that size to play in the NHL, but he grew on me as the season went along, especially in his exceptional postseason, that he could potentially be an NHL backup. While he looks quick and athletic in net, he does need to get his fitness level under control.
McKeens: When the top goaltenders in this year’s class are being discussed, rarely do you see Fowler lumped in with the top options. We believe that to be an error. What more could you have asked of Fowler this year? Check out this list of accolades: World Junior A Challenge champion, USHL Champion, USHL goaltender of the year, and USHL Playoff MVP. The Boston College commit should also step right into the starting goaltending position on a strong NCAA team next year affording him an excellent opportunity for development. So why does he appear to be lost in the shuffle? For one, his late 2004 birth date may be negatively impacting people’s viewpoint of him as more of a “what you see is what you get” player.
Recrutes: Concerns over his weight were alleviated somewhat by his outstanding playoff performance, going 9-1 with a .952 save percentage in leading Youngstown to a Clark Cup title. Despite his lack of athleticism, he makes clutch stops utilizing his elite puck-tracking abilities and intelligence. He’s expected to win the starting role in Boston College next season.
Scott Wheeler, The Athletic: He’s the kind of goalie where if he can see a shot and move to it, he’s going to stop it. He’s got work to do on some other things (conditioning/fitness, less business on scrambles) but he’s got some clear tools, highlighted by good hands, an ability to take space away through square angles and sound positioning, and good tracking/reads. Once he gets into better shape, there’s a belief that he’ll be an NHL goalie.
Rankings
Elite Prospects: 73
Future Considerations: 71
McKeen’s: 45
Central Scouting: 5 (NA Goalies)
Bob McKenzie: 92
Dobber Prospects: 51
Draft Prospects Hockey: 99
Hockey Prospect Radio: 49
Daily Faceoff: 56
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Post by Cranky on Jun 29, 2023 14:35:02 GMT -5
Going into the draft, I was really hoping for Hrabal. This kid Fowler sounds like an interesting goalie with athleticism and competitiveness. If we had the 37th pick....  |
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Post by seventeen on Jun 29, 2023 15:11:49 GMT -5
NWT, thanks for providing all this additional info. It's helping me understand the strengths and weaknesses of our picks and assessing what they need to work on. (big round of applause).
There seems to be concern over Fowler's weight and apparent lack of conditioning. Spending too much time with Phil Kessel? I haven't seen a shirtless picture of Fowler, but we know how unsuccessful Phil has been and how another guy who looks anything but an athlete, Nicola Jokic, seems to dominate all these hyper fast, strong Olympic athlete types in the NBA. Results count too.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jun 29, 2023 19:12:03 GMT -5
Going into the draft, I was really hoping for Hrabal. This kid Fowler sounds like an interesting goalie with athleticism and competitiveness. If we had the 37th pick.... |
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Post by Willie Dog on Jul 4, 2023 9:26:42 GMT -5
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Post by seventeen on Jul 4, 2023 11:20:22 GMT -5
After that quote a nearby listener said, "Talk is cheap"  |
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Post by Willie Dog on Jul 4, 2023 11:45:06 GMT -5
After that quote a nearby listener said, "Talk is cheap" Lol... |
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Post by seventeen on Jul 4, 2023 13:20:08 GMT -5
After that quote a nearby listener said, "Talk is cheap" Lol... I know I harp on it, but it is soooooo easy to thump your chest and yell that "I'm the greatest!!" and it's another thing to go out and prove it, or like PK did, 'take it all away from them'. One can at least say Jacob is confident and acts like he would not be intimidated by the moment. Let's hope he's the real deal. That would be sooooo fantastic. |
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Post by Willie Dog on Jul 4, 2023 15:22:41 GMT -5
I know I harp on it, but it is soooooo easy to thump your chest and yell that "I'm the greatest!!" and it's another thing to go out and prove it, or like PK did, 'take it all away from them'. One can at least say Jacob is confident and acts like he would not be intimidated by the moment. Let's hope he's the real deal. That would be sooooo fantastic. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, he's been quite successful up until now and I hope it continues and he delivers on what he says. |
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