The battle for the Montreal Canadiens’ backup goaltender position is heating up, and today’s practice in Brossard delivered an unexpected twist that fans won’t want to miss. Jakub Dobes, widely recognized as one of the driving forces behind the Canadiens’ playoff push, returned to the ice with his usual determination—but what unfolded left both teammates and observers talking.

Facing some of the team’s brightest stars, Dobes struggled more than usual, allowing a surprising number of goals and showing rare glimpses of frustration. Was this just a tough day at the office, or could it signal a deeper challenge as he prepares to compete with newcomer Kaapo Kahkonen for a coveted roster spot?

With Dobes recently signing a lucrative new contract, and Kahkonen bringing NHL experience and a waiver-eligible status, the stakes have never been higher. Is Dobes’ competitive fire enough to hold off the veteran challenger, or are the Canadiens about to see a dramatic shift in their goaltending hierarchy?

As the internal competition intensifies, every practice becomes a proving ground—and today’s events may be more telling than anyone expected. The full story behind Dobes’ difficult day in Brossard could hold the key to Montreal’s goaltending future.

Photo of Canadiens goalie Jakub Dobes

Photo credit: Screenshot

Jakub Dobes is a true competitor, and he is one of the key reasons why the Montreal Canadiens made it to the playoffs.

He was back on the ice today with his teammates in Brossard, and as the excellent Marc-Olivier Cook reports.. let’s just say it wasn’t an easy day at work for Dobes.

He allowed several goals, far more than usual, and showed some signs of frustration.

Personally, I love seeing him show character, and I love seeing that-even during simple summer practices-he hates giving up goals.

A frustrating scene for Jakub Dobes

His frustration and disappointment are understandable when it happens, but absolutely every goalie has days like that.

To be fair, he’s facing players like Ivan Demidov, Lane Hutson, Cole Caufield, and Patrik Laine, so it’s clearly quite a challenge during practices.

Let’s remember that Dobes will be competing with newcomer Kaapo Kahkonen for the Canadiens’ backup goalie position this season.

Dobes seems to have the edge for that spot, but everything could change at training camp.

Kahkonen, age 29, is a 6-foot-2, 217-pound goalie who was a 4th-round pick of the Minnesota Wild in 2014.

He has a career NHL record of 49-68-15, with a goals-against average of 3.34 and a save percentage of .898.

Dobes, age 24, is a 6-foot-4, 215-pound goalie who was a 5th-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in 2020.

He has a career NHL record of 7-4-3, with a goals-against average of 2.74 and a save percentage of .909.

Jakub Dobes also just signed a brand-new contract with the Montreal Canadiens, a deal that will pay him $965,000 per year through 2027.

It will be a fascinating internal competition to watch, especially since Kahkonen is waiver-eligible in the NHL, unlike Dobes.