Does goaltender Cayden Primeau have a future with the Canadiens?

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After being largely liable for the Laval Rocket’s late-season push to an AHL playoff berth, goaltender Cayden Primeau believes he’s prepared for full-time NHL employment.

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Nevertheless, the Canadiens have already got Sam Montembeault and Jake Allen firmly established in web and underneath contract for subsequent 12 months. If Montreal elects to ship Primeau to the minors subsequent season, he would first should clear waivers. Given his stellar play down the stretch for the Rocket, there’s a threat one other crew would declare him.

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When the Florida Panthers positioned Montembeault on waivers in October 2021, he was claimed by Montreal. Whereas Montembeault was inconsistent for the Canadiens that season, he was stable for Montreal this previous season and has earned enjoying time heading into September coaching camp.

“I’m able to take the following step,” Primeau, 23, acknowledged greater than as soon as final Saturday throughout the Rocket’s season-ending availability after being eradicated the earlier night time by Utica within the best-of-three preliminary spherical.

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“I feel you at all times need to put your finest foot ahead,” added Primeau, chosen 199th general by the Canadiens in 2017. “Clearly, I felt actually good on the finish of the 12 months; the final two weeks particularly. I’m prepared for that subsequent step. As goalies, we put strain on ourselves and the followers are so passionate. It’s nice when issues are going nicely, however it might probably flip rapidly. It’s a positive line. It may be robust to take care of at occasions.”

Primeau’s statistics this season don’t inform the total story of what he was pressured to endure.

In late March, within the midst of enjoying two video games at Manitoba, Primeau was recalled by the Canadiens, pressured to fly from Winnipeg to Philadelphia for a begin towards the Flyers. Though Montreal misplaced that recreation 3-2, the ultimate aim was scored into an empty web and Primeau carried out nicely.

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Primeau returned to the Rocket, who had been nonetheless on the highway, recording a shutout towards Rockford after which defeating Milwaukee. Primeau would get yet another recreation with the Canadiens on April 4, frolicked to dry with little defensive help in a 5-0 home-ice loss to Detroit.

Primeau struggled when he returned to Laval, shedding 5-4 to Cleveland at Place Bell on April 7 a recreation that broken the Rocket’s playoff hopes on the time. However that may be Laval’s solely loss throughout a nine-game stretch and, throughout the common season’s remaining week, Primeau shut out Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, then defeated Toronto and Syracuse. Regardless of dealing with 119 photographs over the three video games, Primeau allowed a modest six objectives.

“It undoubtedly wasn’t straightforward going backwards and forwards,” he admitted. “The video games are completely different. The groups are completely different. The fellows are completely different and the model of play is completely different. It was robust to remain mentally sharp going backwards and forwards so rapidly in a brief period of time.”

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Nonetheless, Rocket head coach Jean-François Houle stated Primeau dealt with the stress nicely and has seen the prospect develop over the past two seasons.

“He has matured loads,” Houle stated. “I feel he understands the place he’s in his profession. However once more, with goalies, it takes some time. Have a look at Montembeault. He went by means of the identical factor within the AHL, with a unique group. They let him go on waivers and we picked him up. With goalies, it occurs on a regular basis. They develop later.”

In 41 video games with Laval, Primeau went 19-15-9 with a 3.04 goals-against common and .909 save proportion. He had three shutouts whereas enjoying behind an inexperienced defence many nights. And the Rocket leaned on him closely. From Feb. 20, Primeau performed in 20 of 23 video games.

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However he’s nonetheless looking for extra consistency on the NHL degree the place, in 21 profession video games, Primeau has a 3-12-2 document, 4.11 common and .871 save proportion. He is aware of that consistency, or lack thereof, will outline his profession as he makes an attempt to forge forward. However so long as he stays with the Canadiens group, Primeau understands he, and others, will ceaselessly be in comparison with Patrick Roy and Carey Worth.

“One may assume,” he stated, laughing. “Once you’ve had nice goalies you need everybody to be like that.”

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