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Zach Fucale<\/b> is a 22-year-old Montreal Canadiens<\/a> prospect and his hockey journey is as interesting as they come. The young goaltender is all too aware of the tumultuous process in which players are sent up and down between National Hockey League teams and their respective American Hockey League (AHL) affiliates. The role of the Habs prospect has been to be patient and endure. Unfortunately, it is looking unlikely that Fucale will be re-signed when his contract is finished after only three seasons in the Canadiens organization.<\/p>\n Zach Fucale was drafted at a time when the Canadiens system was weak in goal behind Carey Price<\/a><\/strong>. However, that has changed, it is now a prospect group which is heavily saturated with goalies. As far Canadiens goalie prospects go, Fucale is essentially behind Charlie\u00a0Lindgren<\/strong> and\u00a0Michael McNiven<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>in the team’s pecking order. Most analysts now see his potential as being lower than college prospects Hayden Hawkey<\/a><\/strong> and Cayden Primeau<\/strong><\/a>. Zach Fucale is a victim of being drafted by a franchise that seems to be rapidly improving its goalie depth. When he was drafted, it was hoped that he could develop behind a world-class goalie like Price. In the meantime multiple other prospects have been added and passed him on the depth chart. Many prospect analysts believe Fucale is currently the fifth-ranked goalie prospect in the Canadiens organization.<\/p>\n It is important to not look at Fucale’s draft status, he may be the highest draft pick of the goalies drafted by Montreal, but he’s struggled badly in both the ECHL and AHL. This season, Zach Fucale has a save percentage of .891 with the Laval Rocket, which is less than stellar.<\/p>\n Zach Fucale had an excellent career with the Halifax Mooseheads<\/a> of the Quebec Major Junior hockey league (QMJHL)<\/a>, before being named North America\u2019s number one goalie by the NHL\u2019s Central scouting ratings in November 2012. Fucale was drafted by the Canadiens<\/a> organization in the 2013 NHL entry draft, going in the second round, 36th overall. Fucale went on to represent Canada in 2014 and 2015 as a participant in the World Juniors winning a gold medal in 2015.<\/p>\n After being the top goaltender taken in the 2013 NHL entry draft, Fucale has played hockey in many places. After training camp in 2014, he returned to the Halifax Mooseheads to play his final junior years there. In 2015, Fucale played a pre-season game for the Montreal Canadiens and although the game went to overtime the young goalie was unable to steal a win from the Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a> on September 22nd<\/sup>.<\/p>\n Eventually, Fucale was reassigned to the St. John\u2019s Ice Caps<\/a> of the American Hockey League, which at this point was the affiliate for the Canadiens<\/a>. Fucale spent time backing up Mike Condon<\/a> while Carey Price<\/a> was injured. The moving wasn\u2019t done for young Zach Fucale as he was asked to report to the Brampton Beast of the ECHL<\/a>\u00a0where he played registered some records for games played, games won (25) and goals against average. Fucale was also the youngest player on the Canadian roster that won the Spengler Cup in the 2016-17 season.<\/p>\n Niemi, Schlemko added to Habs wounded; Fucale recalled from Laval https:\/\/t.co\/PlMEoLQnMq<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/XBdOnYMMA9<\/a><\/p>\n — CTV Montreal (@CTVMontreal) March 6, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nMany goalie prospects for Montreal Canadiens<\/h1>\n
Montreal Canadiens prospect: The long road<\/h2>\n
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