A Montreal Canadiens draft-room clip about Jacob Fowler sparked a bigger question on Called Up: The Prospects Podcast: When choosing a goalie, how much should NHL teams value proven performance against size and untapped potential?
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FloHockey’s Chris Peters and Elite Prospects’ Cam Robinson explored that question through Fowler, then considered why a bigger, less polished goalie could still be the more appealing draft choice.
Their answers came with an important qualification: The strength of a prospect’s résumé can change the calculation.
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How Jacob Fowler Sparked The Discussion
Peters introduced the topic by describing a circulating clip of Canadiens scout Billy Ryan advocating for Fowler during a draft-room discussion about goaltenders.
According to Peters, Ryan’s argument centered on Fowler’s accomplishments.
“Ryan made the case that it had to be Fowler,” Peters said, explaining that “he had had so much success at the current level.”
Peters pointed to Fowler’s success in the United States Hockey League (USHL), including a championship and playoff MVP honors, as the kind of evidence that makes a goalie’s track record compelling.
Then he posed the hypothetical: Would Robinson choose an unpolished 6-foot-6 goalie with more perceived upside or a technically sound 6-foot-2 goalie with a history of winning?
“I could tell you who NHL teams are leaning towards right now, but who do you lean towards?” Peters asked.
Cam Robinson’s Answer: Fowler’s Résumé Changes The Choice
Robinson initially favored the more established goalie when the accomplishments were as convincing as Fowler’s.
“If we’re talking about that, like give me Jacob Fowler,” Robinson said.
But he distinguished that particular example from a more general comparison. What if the smaller goalie had consistently been good, while the bigger prospect was an outstanding athlete still adjusting to his frame?
“I might go big,” Robinson said.
The difference was the development opportunity. Robinson saw a case for betting that coaching and patience could help the larger athlete turn his physical advantages into dependable goaltending.
“You might wait a little bit more on them,” he said.
Robinson used Jacob Markstrom as an example of the developmental path he envisioned: a big goalie who needed time to refine his technique before putting everything together.
His preference for Fowler’s specific résumé did not eliminate his willingness to bet on another prospect’s potential.
Chris Peters Revisits Sebastian Cossa And Jesper Wallstedt
Peters then brought up Sebastian Cossa and Jesper Wallstedt, recalling how their different profiles presented another version of the same dilemma.
He described Wallstedt as a goalie with an established pedigree and Cossa as a larger, highly athletic prospect coming off a dominant WHL season.
Peters also noted Detroit’s decision to trade up for Cossa, emphasizing the additional investment involved in pursuing that upside.
Both hosts recalled preferring Wallstedt in that draft year.
The comparison illustrated why these decisions extend beyond identifying an impressive athlete. Teams must decide how confidently they can project that player’s development — and what they are willing to spend on that projection.
What The Debate Means For Drafting Goalies
Returning to Fowler, Peters noted that four goalies had been selected before him in his draft year.
That observation brought the discussion back to the uncertainty of ranking the position and the appeal of taking an upside bet.
Earlier in the episode, Robinson had explained why he could support choosing a goalie later in the first round: A potential NHL starter could be more attractive than a skater projected for a smaller role.
Peters agreed with that approach.
“If you think that the goalie possesses the most upside, I guess that’s where you’re going,” he said.
The takeaway from their discussion is that size and track record each need context. Fowler’s accomplishments were convincing enough for Robinson to favor him, while a different comparison could lead him toward the bigger athlete.
For a team making that choice, the question becomes how much development it still needs to project — and whether the potential reward justifies the pick.
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