While the Canadiens are carrying three goalies following today’s recall of Jakub Dobes, that won’t be the case for long. Following practice today, head coach Martin St. Louis told reporters including Sportsnet’s Eric Engels (Twitter link) that Montreal will place goaltender Cayden Primeau on waivers on Saturday. The roster freeze doesn’t end until tomorrow which is why this move isn’t being made today.
Things were looking up for Primeau heading into the season. After playing in a three-goalie rotation for most of last season, Primeau secured the full-time second spot after Jake Allen was moved to New Jersey at the trade deadline. He finished up the season strong, putting up a .919 SV% in March and April, providing some optimism that he’d be ready for a full season of being a second-string option.
However, that hasn’t been the case as Primeau has struggled mightily thus far in 2024-25. The 25-year-old has been limited to 11 appearances (four of which have come in relief) and he has posted a 4.70 GAA with a .836 SV%, ranking him last league-wide in both categories among netminders with more than one appearance this season. That resulted in the team being hesitant to play him as his last start came back on December 1st. With Samuel Montembeault only 13 games away from matching his career-high in appearances in a single season, carrying a backup they’re not comfortable using was unsustainable.
While Montreal was hesitant to waive him last season for fear he’d be claimed, it appears they’re more confident he’ll pass through now given his struggles so far.
The timing for those struggles is far from ideal for Primeau. He’s in the final season of a three-year deal that carries a $890K cap charge while he’s also receiving a $1.1MM one-way salary. As things stand, it’s hard to see the Canadiens (or another team if he’s claimed) offer him a seven-figure qualifying offer with arbitration rights this summer unless he is able to vastly turn things around in the second half of the season.
With Primeau not officially becoming available until Saturday, teams will have until 1 PM CT on Sunday to submit a claim for his services.
Montembeault has been played to death, So if Dobes can’t get it done, Montreal will have to find a serviceable backup.
Carey Price should come out of Retirement ！
You can have Husso for a bag of used pucks!
It was interesting watching his prospect status in the video games diminish as the years went on. In 18-19-20, he could progress to being a capable starter. In 21-22, he progressed to quality backup. In 23-24, he was an AHL starter when he was done developing.
He can’t play at this level, I’ve seen plenty of him. You could leave him at a gas station and nobody would pick him up
Maybe the Senators take a closer look. I’d prefer Merilainen and Sogaard over Primeau but you never know…
(sighs) Northeastern alum and former season ticket holder here, so I hate seeing Primeau and Devon Levi struggle — against any team but the Bruins, of course. Is a sadness.