Cayden Primeau seems to have reached the end of his journey with the Montreal Canadiens, after another collapse that leaves little hope for his future between the pipes of the team.
Five goals conceded on fourteen shots, another performance worthy of the American line, which forced Martin St-Louis to call on Samuel Montembeault to try to redress the situation while CH only lost 5-4 in the third period.
This gesture from the coach says a lot: he knew that Montembeault was the best chance to win. And the coach was rewarded with CH’s first victory in November (5-4).
Remember that on TVA Sports, the experts did not hold back at the start of the season.
Éric Fichaud and Patrick Lalime have painted a merciless portrait of the young goalkeeper. Fichaud, bluntly, expressed his lack of confidence:
“I don’t have a lot of confidence in him. »
A scathing remark that shows how deep the problem is. Primeau today has a reputation for inconsistency which is becoming a burden for the team.
Lalime hit the nail on the head by highlighting Primeau’s recurring weaknesses:
“Too much hesitation, too much inconsistency. He can have a good period and then collapse. »
The description is clear: Primeau is this unpredictable goalkeeper, whose roller coaster performances are a nightmare for the Canadiens’ leaders.
While Primeau is collapsing, Jakub Dobes, goalkeeper of the Laval Rocket, is rising in everyone’s esteem. 5th round pick, Dobes seems ready to take over.
While waiting for the arrival of the promising Jacob Fowler, the club could finally find in Dobes a successor capable of stabilizing the situation.
Lalime also emphasizes that the young goalkeeper could soon put even more pressure on Primeau.
The situation is clear: Cayden Primeau is today a shadow of the hope he once represented. His hesitations and his inconsistency on the ice undermine his future within the team, while Dobes and Montembeault must be the tandem between the posts of the Canadian.
Primeau, caught in a downward spiral, may never find his place again.
Behind the scenes, the shadow of Dobes becomes more imposing. And with the rise of Fowler, a new generation is taking shape for the CH, relegating Primeau to a dark future.
The verdict is clear: the future of the Canadian between the posts belongs to Dobes and Fowler. But in the meantime, Cayden Primeau must be placed on waivers.
The time has come for Kent Hughes to make a difficult but necessary decision: submit Cayden Primeau to waivers to send him back to Laval or, who knows, let another team take a chance on him.
Daniel Brière, general manager of the Philadelphia Flyers, remains attentive to the situation.
Patience seems to have reached its limit in those around the Canadian, and the warning signs are multiplying. We are reaching the point where we wonder if a recall of Jakub Dobes would not be the best option, as the young goalkeeper has shown signs of confidence and consistency.
In recent weeks, Primeau has had a string of disappointing performances, accumulating hesitations and costly errors.
This last game against the Sabres, where he allowed five goals on only fourteen shots, was the last straw. He looked like a lost guardian, like a child in the forest who lost his mother, unable to find the confidence necessary to bounce back.
And if some were wondering if it was just an accident, let’s just say that there have been too many pileups in a row.
Patrick Lalime, who knows well the pressure of playing in the NHL as a goalie, was scathing.
For him, Primeau is simply too hesitant: he can shine for a moment and then collapse. And this is not the first time that he has shown such inconsistency, to the point that the idea of seeing him continue with the Canadian as second or even third goalkeeper seems to become inconceivable.
Today, he no longer offers even flashes of talent. It just keeps falling apart again and again.
As for Éric Fichaud, his analysis goes further. He evokes a Primeau incapable of rising to the level of expectations, broken by a lack of solidity which makes him vulnerable at every opportunity.
Can the Canadian still bet on him, while Dobes waits in the shadows, ready to seize the slightest opportunity? Fichaud no longer believes it and even affirms that trust is broken, leaving Primeau little hope of surviving this thawing news.
The question of waiver therefore becomes crucial. By sending Primeau to Laval, the CH would risk losing him for nothing, but can we really afford to sacrifice the progress of Jakub Dobes, too strong for the American league to try, once again, to revive a goalkeeper who has already exhausted his chances?
In fact, if a team like Philadelphia, looking for solutions in goal, decided to claim him, it could be the best thing for all parties.
Primeau could try to relaunch his career elsewhere, at home where he was born, far from the pressure of Montreal, while the Canadian would finally bet on Dobe, who is a centerpiece of his reconstruction project.
Within the organization, there is a growing sense of urgency. Samuel Montembeault, now seen as a much more reliable and calm goalkeeper under pressure, has earned the trust of the coaches.
With Dobes gaining strength in Laval, the Canadian could quickly put in place a hierarchy of goalkeepers capable of holding up, resisting pressure and, above all, meeting the expectations of fans and managers.
Primeau, once seen as the future, is today nothing more than a bitter memory of unfulfilled potential.
Kent Hughes can no longer ignore the sad reality.
Management will have to choose: risk losing him for nothing or continue the discomfort of seeing him collapse exit after exit.
In the end, the logic seems merciless: Primeau, with his weaknesses exposed in every match, no longer has his place in Montreal.
So, let’s call Dobes back, let’s try everything. Primeau perhaps deserves a chance elsewhere, but for the Canadian, it is time to turn the page.
