The Laval Rocket organization is celebrating, but the rest of the American Hockey League is scratching its head. On Thursday, the AHL announced that Montreal Canadiens top prospect Jacob Fowler has been selected for the 2026 AHL All-Star Game in Rockford. While the «Habs» faithful see this as proof of Fowler’s inevitable superstardom, critics are pointing to a glaring, almost absurd statistic: Fowler has not suited up for a game in the AHL since December 6.
The Phantom All-Star: Earning a Spot from the Press Box
The selection has ignited a heated debate across social media regarding the criteria for All-Star honors. Being named one of the league’s best while being absent for over a month is a feat rarely seen in professional sports. Since his last start for the Rocket, Fowler has transitioned to the NHL level, where he has posted a respectable 4-3-2 record with the Montreal Canadiens.
However, the question remains: is it fair to the goaltenders who have been grinding in the AHL trenches every night to lose an All-Star spot to a player who has already «graduated» to the big leagues? To some, this feels less like a performance-based reward and more like a popularity contest driven by the massive Montreal market.
Validating the Hype or Market Bias?
For the Montreal Canadiens, the news is a massive public relations win. It serves as a loud reminder that their «goaltending pipeline» is arguably the strongest in the NHL. Fowler, a 2023 third-round pick, has lived up to every bit of the hype, posting a .908 save percentage and a shutout during his brief 9-game stint in the NHL this season.
Laval will also be represented by Laurent Dauphin and Adam Engstrom, with Pascal Vincent taking a spot behind the bench. Yet, all eyes remain on Fowler. His inclusion in the February 10-11 event in Rockford is being viewed by many as the AHL’s way of keeping its biggest young star in the spotlight, even if he hasn’t touched AHL ice in weeks.
A Message to the Rest of the League
The message from the AHL seems clear: talent trumps attendance. While the selection puts a smile on the faces of those in the Canadiens organization, it leaves a bitter taste for rival teams who feel that «All-Star» status should require actually playing in the league during the month leading up to the vote.
Whether Fowler will even be allowed to participate—given his current role with the Montreal Canadiens—is another question entirely. For now, Jacob Fowler remains the AHL’s most famous «missing» All-Star, proving that in the world of professional hockey, sometimes your reputation does the heavy lifting for you.