Pierre McGuire Compares Young Canadiens Goalie to Martin Brodeur

Jacob Fowler turned in a dominant performance against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Pierre McGuire wasn't the least bit surprised. The longtime hockey analyst has been high on the Montreal Canadiens' goaltending prospect for a while now, and after watching Fowler shut down the Penguins, McGuire made a comparison that carries serious weight.

Speaking on Tony Marinaro's Sick Podcast, McGuire was asked when he first got excited about Fowler and what his expectations are for the young goalie moving forward. His answer revealed just how special he thinks Fowler can be.

Watching Fowler From the Beginning

McGuire's evaluation of Fowler didn't start recently. He's been tracking the goalie's development for years, going back to his time with the Youngstown Phantoms in the USHL and watching him compete in the USHL playoffs when Youngstown won the Clark Cup during Fowler's draft year.

The evaluation continued at Boston College, where McGuire watched Fowler practice and play under head coach Greg Brown. It was during that time at BC that McGuire made a bold statement to Brown about what he was seeing from the young netminder.

The Brodeur Comparison

McGuire told Brown that Fowler reminded him of someone he'd watched decades earlier, a comparison he doesn't make lightly.

"I told Coach Brown at BC, I said, look, this probably doesn't mean much to you, but I watched Martin Brodeur when he was 16 play for Montreal in the East End of Montreal, Saint Leonard," McGuire explained. Then came the statement that underscores just how highly McGuire thinks of Fowler.

Pierre McGuire wasn't the least bit surprised to see Jacob Fowler stonewall the Pittsburgh Penguins last night...

"This is the first kid I've seen since I watched Brodeur as a 16-year old that reminds me of Brodeur"#GoHabsGo #thesickpodcast @TonyMarinaro pic.twitter.com/c9eQUceUYc
— The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro (@thesickpodcasts) December 12, 2025

"I'm just telling you right now, this is the first kid I've seen since I watched Brodeur as a 16-year-old that reminds me of Brodeur. It's the first kid I ever saw that reminded me of Brodeur."

That's not a comparison you throw around casually. Martin Brodeur is a Hall of Famer, one of the greatest goaltenders in NHL history, and for McGuire to say he hasn't seen anyone like him until Fowler is massive praise.

Long-Standing Conviction

McGuire made it clear this isn't a recent hot take or something he's saying to generate buzz. He's been making this comparison since Fowler's draft year, and his conviction has only strengthened as he's watched the goalie continue to develop.

McGuire even added a personal anecdote about Brodeur, mentioning that the Hall of Fame goalie was close to coming to play for McGuire at St. Lawrence before ultimately taking a different path.

High Expectations

Sep 22, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens goalie Jacob Fowler (32) takes a breather during the third period of the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images | Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

For Canadiens fans hoping Fowler can be their goalie of the future, hearing someone with McGuire's experience and track record make this kind of comparison has to be encouraging. If McGuire is right, and Fowler really does have that Brodeur-like quality to his game, Montreal may have found something truly special.

The performance against the Penguins was just another data point supporting what McGuire has been saying all along. Fowler has the potential to be elite, and the rest of the hockey world is starting to catch on.

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