Is it over for Cayden Primeau with the Montreal Canadiens? The young goaltender has just been very revealing in his remarks

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Elias Edmonson
October 1, 2023 (1:35 PM)

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Even though he was a 7th-round pick, the hopes and expectations for Cayden Primeau have always been very high. If his excellent start in professional hockey validated many people's beliefs, the goaltender now seems to be stagnating in his development.

The 2023-2024 season will be a very important one for the young American's future. For the first time in his career, he will have to go through waivers to be sent back to the American League. His performances during the next camp will, therefore, have a significant influence on his future.

On this subject, he was recently asked whether he would request a trade if he does not play in the NHL this season. His response, while not precise, said it all...

"I want to play in the NHL, I want to play against the best every night. That's the mindset I came into training camp with. [...] I want to stay in the NHL. Everything I did over the summer, I did it to prove that I can play here." - Cayden Primeau

With Samuel Montembeault and Jake Allen firmly ahead of him on the CH depth chart, his place is definitely in the AHL. Displacing one of the two veterans won't be easy, and he will surely be demoted to Laval before the season starts.

The chances of the now 24-year-old goaltender being claimed by an NHL team if he is placed on waivers during training camp are very slim. Most teams already have their duos set for the next campaign and won't have space in their lineup to accommodate Primeau. However, an injury to a goalie elsewhere in the league during the preseason could significantly change the situation.

Given his recent comments and if he ends up in Laval without being selected, it wouldn't be surprising to see him ask to leave the organization that drafted him. However, he will need to prove in the preseason that he is of NHL caliber as his career stats in the major league are not very impressive.

Indeed, in 21 NHL games, Primeau has accumulated a record of 3-12-2 with a goals-against average of 4.11 and a save percentage of .871. His AHL stats are much better with a regular-season record of 63-42-12-11, a 2.74 goals-against average, and a .909 save percentage.