Back in the 2013 draft, Canadiens goalie prospect Zach Fucale was the first netminder to go off the board at 36th overall. He was coming off of a stellar season at the junior level, winning 45 of his 53 decisions while his Halifax Mooseheads made it to the Memorial Cup.
However, that has yet to materialize into much in the way of success at the professional level and as a result, Montreal has been trying to trade the 22-year-old in recent weeks, Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reports.
After spending 2016-17 primarily at the ECHL level, Fucale landed a backup role in the AHL to start this season but was recently demoted back to the ECHL. In seven games with Laval of the AHL, he has posted a 3.54 GAA and a .879 SV%, numbers that are well below the league average.
Although they’ve yet to find a fit trade-wise, it’s hard to imagine the Canadiens would be placing too high of an asking price on Fucale. He has dropped to fifth on the active depth chart (one that excludes the injured Al Montoya) and based on his struggles, a qualifying offer come June doesn’t seem to be likely at this point. Considering the success he had in junior, it will be interesting to see if another team takes a chance on him with the hopes a change of scenery will kick-start his development.
Another example of incredibly poor drafting that the Canadiens franchise has endured. First round picks that turn out to be AHL journeymen. What a mess this current management has churned out.
Fucale was a 2nd round pick and the Habs were praised beyond belief because he was universally classified as a mid-1st round talent(some even went as far as to say he could have been a top 10 pick). His development hasn’t progressed and that happens with numerous picks. And in his case, I would hardly blame the Habs since Fucale’s issues go all the way back to his days in junior. He’s a rather lazy player who rode the success of his Halifax teams and instead of trying to improve, he was content just going through the motions. That laziness and lack of preparation is why he’s struggled so badly since turning pro and why he’s been unseated by two undrafted goalies.
Unless you know the player personally, I would recommend not posting speculative insults about his character/work ethic.
Super, Doc is very intelligent, in terms of hockey, & follows Montreal & anything involving the franchise very closely. He is also very educated & played hockey himself at a higher level than most until a serious injury took him out.
People here respect him & the knowledge that he can provide when someone needs a question answered. Chastising him is wrong & uncalled for. We here, at least respect each other & also respect the knowledge that another hockey fan can bring.
How is he lazy?
It’s ironic that he was classified as mid 1st round prospect but all the teams that passed on him must not have had the same opinion and they seem to be right at this point.
If you are ever tempted to take what Craig Button says seriously (then obviously you forgot his tenure with Calgary but) just remember, he said Fuchale was the best goalie prospect he’d seen in years.
You always have to be leery of junior goalies from good teams. Their teams often make them look better than they are.