José Théodore says Jakub Dobes shut him up in 2025-2026
José Théodore says Jakub Dobes surprised him in the 2025-2026 season and, in his words, "m’a fermé la g..." after the Canadiens goalie changed his view. Théodore said the performance left several skeptics silent, and he now sees a real battle ahead for the job.
Dobes changed Théodore’s view
Théodore said Dobes looked very awkward early in the season and was still making the same technical mistakes he had shown the year before. He added that he did not understand why Dobes was so emotional in October after a game, a reaction that fit the rough start he saw on the ice.
By the end of the regular season, Dobes had posted a.901 save percentage, and Théodore said that number came with more stability in front of his net. He pointed to the goalie’s ability to bounce back after a bad goal or a bad game as the biggest reason he changed his mind.
Marco Marciano and the crease
A coaching change also shifted the picture. Marco Marciano replaced Éric Raymond as the Canadiens’ goaltending instructor during the season, and Théodore said Dobes became much more stable after that move.
The ex-Canadiens goaltender said he had underestimated Dobes’s strength, character and mental toughness. He also said he was wrong about the goalie because Dobes could play several games and remain mentally strong, which is the trait that changed the conversation around him inside Montreal.
The timing matters because Théodore, who won the Hart and Vézina trophies in 2001-2002, is not talking about a short hot streak. He said Dobes had to live through the pressure of an NHL crease and that experience changed how he sees the rest of the Canadiens’ goalie picture.
Jacob Fowler in Montreal
Théodore also brought Jacob Fowler into the discussion, saying he likes him and that Fowler and Dobes complement each other well. He added that the two push each other, which gives Montreal another layer to the competition.
That fight is not settled. Théodore said Dobes goes into next year with a head start, but he also said, "Mais il y aura une lutte." He added that Dobes wants to play games and not be the second goalie, and that there is nothing negative about a strong partnership and a good battle between goaltenders.
For Montreal, the immediate takeaway is that Dobes has moved from question mark to contender. Théodore’s comments point to a crease race that will carry into next season, with Dobes owning the early edge and Fowler already in the picture.
