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There once was a time when the last concern in Montreal was the goaltending situation, but that is no longer the case. Kent Hughes has come out to say that he doesn’t see a way through which Price can play this season and the Canadiens’ faithful will have to make-do with the Allen/Montembeault tandem for another year. Last season, as things were going dreadfully and injuries were pilling up, young Cayden Primeau was thrown to the lions and left to his own device against NHL opponents that were so clearly outplaying the Habs night after night.
A Canadiens’ 7th round pick in 2017, Keith Primeau’s son developed well in his first couple of years post draft at Northeastern University. Then, he was brought in the Canadiens’ fold.
Thanks to the pandemic, he only played 33 games with the Rocket in his first AHL season finishing with a 2.45 GAA and a .908 save percentage. That year, he played his first 2 games in the NHL, winning one of those with a 2.52 GAA and a .945 save percentage. The following season was a disaster development wise, with the pandemic he only played in 16 games with the Rocket (2.10 GAA and .909 SP) and 4 with the Canadiens (4.16 GAA and .849). It’s well-known, young netminders need to see a lot of action in order to develop properly and because of circumstances out of anyone’s control, Primeau didn’t get to do that.
As for last season, well, the story has been well-documented, in 12 games in the NHL Primeau got a 1-7-1 record, a 4.62 GAA and a .868 SP. By the time he was sent back to Laval, it looked like his confidence had pretty much been shattered. In Laval, he manned the bet for 33 games with a 16-12-5 record, a 2.94 GAA and a .909. Nothing too impressive, but he was able to get in high gear for the playoffs, taking part in 14 games and posting stellar numbers 2.17 GAA and a .936 SP.
That’s how his entry level-contract ended. Even though he’s now got 3 years of pro hockey under his belt, those were hardly 3 normal years. Many say that it’s time for Primeau to sink or swim, but I do not think so. By signing Samuel Montembeault to a new 2-year contract extension, Hughes has all but told Primeau that health permitting, he will be spending the season in Laval to develop. Meanwhile, Jake Allen in on the last year of his 2-year pact with the Habs, meaning that should things go well for Primeau in Laval this season, he could have a spot on the team next year.
For that to happen though, he still needs to reach an agreement with the Habs on the terms of his new contract and I struggle to see how he can have much leverage right now. Yes, he played inspired hockey during the AHL playoffs, but he’s not yet where a goaltender of his age should be on his development path. With Carey Price on LTIR, it was thought that there would be enough cap space to sign both Dach and Primeau to new deals but if the rumors that give Dach a $3.5 M cap hit are true, that doesn’t leave much for the young goaltenders.
Perhaps, if Hughes manages to drop one of his surpluses to requirement wingers, he can give himself more wiggle room and settle his last two contract negotiations. Whatever happens, one thing is for sure, the Habs GM isn’t done wheeling and dealing for this offseason, but time is now of the essence.
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