Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes is facing a professional challenge head-on, candidly expressing concern over his place within the team's crowded crease. In the midst of a three-man rotation, the 24-year-old netminder is fighting to prove his value and secure his spot on the NHL roster.
The Mental Grind of an NHL Goaltender
Following a 6-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks at the Bell Centre on Monday, January 13, 2026, Dobes offered a raw glimpse into the psychological toll of his situation. "I'm worried about being here, not being here," Dobes admitted. "This year has been a little different. Personally, I don't have a safe floor. Every day, I try to survive. That has been my story in the NHL. Try to survive and be here for one more day."
He directly addressed the misconception of an easy life for professional goalies. "It's definitely not an easy life, like everyone thinks, being an NHL goalie," Dobes said. "You sit there and think, '(he has) no pressure?' There's a lot of pressure."
A Crowded Crease Creates Uncertainty
The landscape changed for Dobes when rookie Jacob Fowler was promoted from the AHL's Laval Rocket on December 9, 2025. Since then, playing time has become scarce in a rotation that also includes veteran Samuel Montembeault. Dobes's start against the Canucks was his first since January 1, a 7-5 win in Carolina where he posted an .800 save percentage.
Against Vancouver, Dobes showed signs of rust, allowing three goals on the first 12 shots before settling in to shut the door for the final 30 minutes and 18 seconds of play. "All I know is I left everything on the table that I could," he stated. "And we won. That's it."
While his season record stands at a strong 14-5-3 through 22 games, his underlying statistics—a 3.01 goals-against average and an .888 save percentage—tell a story of inconsistency after a hot start where he won his first six contests.
The Road Ahead and Roster Decisions
The immediate future offers little clarity. With the team embarking on a three-game road trip starting Tuesday, January 14 in Washington, Montembeault is set to start, likely followed by Fowler in Buffalo on Thursday. Dobes's next opportunity is uncertain.
The roster mechanics add another layer of tension. Both Fowler and Dobes can be sent to the AHL without requiring waivers. With Fowler demonstrating consistency and Montembeault entrenched as the veteran, Dobes acknowledges the precarious nature of his position. "Maybe some people feel it's better for me to go down," he pondered. "But if I win games... For me to go down, it would be something that I wouldn't understand. But I don't make these decisions. I'm just trying to prove that I belong."
He concluded with a focus on what he can control: "I just try to be there for my teammates and play for my amazing fans. That's all I really have... I keep trying to win. That's what I've been doing my whole life since junior; learning how to win."
In other team news from Washington, head coach Martin St. Louis indicated a "good chance" winger Josh Anderson (upper-body injury) would return to the lineup against the Capitals after being sidelined since January 1.
