Keith Primeau, former NHL star player and father of Cayden Primeau, came out of his silence to openly criticize the management of his son by the Montreal Canadiens.
Unable to remain passive in the face of the current situation, the protective father expressed his anger and disappointment regarding the treatment meted out to the young guard.
I must admit that I agree with him.
If I were in his place, I would have demanded to be placed on waivers to return to the American League.
What we are doing to him is unacceptable. If you don’t believe in him, let him go so he can find his confidence elsewhere.
Since the start of the season, Cayden Primeau has become the target of criticism, an easy scapegoat to explain the Canadian’s poor performances.
Thursday night, during the humiliating loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins, he was sent into a desperate situation in relief of Samuel Montembeault, while the team was already in disarray.
Keith Primeau, visibly frustrated, can’t take it anymore.
Why send him to a lost cause? That’s not how you develop a goalie. You don’t protect it, you sacrifice it.
For Keith Primeau, the solution is clear: submit his son to waivers to allow him to return to Laval and find an environment where he can develop peacefully.
According to him, the management of the Canadian unnecessarily persists in keeping Cayden in a position where he is exposed to incessant criticism.
Let’s be honest, Cayden no longer has the value he was given to have. If another team claimed him, good for him.
Otherwise, a return to Laval could allow him to regain confidence and regain his game.
Keith Primeau also recalled the inspiring story of Charlie Lindgren, a former Canadiens goalie left free in 2021.
After a detour to the American League, Lindgren established himself as a reliable goaltender with the Washington Capitals, proving that a winding path can still lead to success.
Cayden is only 25 years old. It can still bounce back, but not under these conditions. What he is currently experiencing is not fair, neither for him nor for his career.
For Keith Primeau, it is urgent that Kent Hughes make a decision to put an end to this toxic situation. The Laval Rocket has goalkeepers like Jakub Dobes or Connor Hughes, who could step up if necessary.
According to him, it is time to free Cayden from this constant pressure and offer him a real opportunity to redefine himself.
If Cayden no longer has a future in Montreal, give him the chance to find one elsewhere. Do what you need to do so he can move forward.
Keith Primeau’s words are unequivocal: the Montreal Canadiens are mishandling his son’s case, and this could have lasting repercussions on his career.
This is not how you treat a player, let alone a goalkeeper who needs stability and confidence. If you don’t have a plan for him, let him go.
Keith Primeau’s message resonates as a cry from the heart for his son, but also as a scathing criticism of the Montreal organization.
If Cayden Primeau manages to flourish elsewhere, it would become another example of talent mismanaged by the Habs, a cruel reminder of the importance of supporting its young players.
For Keith Primeau, it is clear that the time to act is now, before Cayden becomes another victim of the Montreal system.
Frustration is gaining ground in Cayden Primeau’s inner circle, while the young goalkeeper sees the weeks pass by feeling uneasy about life.
A situation that seems endless for his father, Keith Primeau, once a respected leader in the NHL and today a worried father.
Cayden’s situation is clear, but no less frustrating. Relegated to the position of third goalkeeper, he is stuck in a thankless role where he has neither the playing time necessary to develop, nor the opportunity to flourish.
Meanwhile, the Canadiens are trying to find a buyer for Jake Allen, hoping to free up space for Primeau. But this prolonged wait begins to seem like an unfair punishment for the young man.
Keith Primeau does not mince his words in private:
“My son is losing crucial months for his development. If Montreal doesn’t have a clear plan for him, let him go! »
The stagnation is all the more worrying as Primeau needs consistency to regain his confidence. Goalies like Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler, who are quickly rising through the ranks, directly threaten his future with the organization.
Keith sees the signs: Montreal is no longer banking on Cayden for the future, and this reality weighs heavily on his morale.
In Keith’s eyes, the solution is obvious: a trade to a team where Cayden will finally be able to express himself. Philadelphia, where Keith made history with the Flyers, appears to be the ideal base.
Keith does not hesitate to imagine his son’s future in this city that once welcomed him:
In Philadelphia, Cayden would have a real chance to show what he can do. This is a team that needs stability in front of the net, and my son could give them that.
However, Montreal seems reluctant to give up Primeau.
But at what cost? Keith fears that this stubbornness will permanently bury his son’s career in the NHL.
If Cayden is at rock bottom, why keep him? Why not give it a chance elsewhere? »
Keith Primeau is right to be concerned. At 25, Cayden is at a critical age for a goalie. The NHL is full of examples of young talent wasted by poor development or haphazard management.
Keith points out Montreal’s inability to properly manage his son and pleads for an immediate departure:
It’s time for Cayden to go. If he stays in Montreal, his career could well be compromised for good.
For Keith, one thing is clear: Montreal must act now, whether by trading Cayden or placing him on waivers.
If nothing changes, Primeau could well join the long list of promising goalkeepers that Montreal has let slip away, one more chapter in the history of missed opportunities for the Habs.
Keith Primeau hopes that his son will not become another victim of this hesitant management. Time, however, is against them.
