There was notable tension in the 98.5 Sports studio yesterday as Stéphane Waite, former Canadiens goalie coach, found himself facing the failure he tried so hard to deny.
Invited to the microphone of Louis Jean, Waite, true to himself, fiercely defended his former protégé, Cayden Primeau, categorically refusing to admit that the latter did not live up to expectations.
But rather than admitting his mistakes, Waite pointed the finger at the Canadian organization, accusing the team of having mismanaged the development of the young goaltender.
For years, Stéphane Waite touted Cayden Primeau as the Canadiens’ goaltender of the future, going so far as to suggest he would surpass Samuel Montembeault, who he often referred to as a limited goaltender.
“I don’t think Samuel Montembeault is a number one goalie. I think Cayden Primeau has more talent,” he had repeatedly asserted, fueling blatant favoritism.
Today, the facts contradict this assertion. While Montembeault has solidified himself as a reliable goaltender in the NHL, Primeau is posting abysmal stats: a 4.70 goals-against average and a .836 save percentage, the worst in the league this season.
Instead of recognizing that Primeau simply did not measure up, Waite preferred to place the blame on the Canadian.
“Cayden hasn’t been good this season, I admit. But he needed help, and it never came. We didn’t help Cayden, and that really disappoints me.” he said, visibly frustrated.
Waite criticizes the organization for not providing an environment conducive to Primeau’s progression, citing last year’s menage a trois, where Primeau shared the net with Montembeault and Jake Allen, as proof of mismanagement.
However, these excuses are difficult to convince. Primeau had multiple opportunities to prove his worth, and each time, he was unable to deliver the goods.
Stéphane Waite’s refusal to recognize Montembeault’s success adds an additional layer to the uneasiness.
Since the start of the season, Montembeault has demonstrated that he can play the role of number one goalie, despite Waite’s constant doubts.
Montembeault, tired of the criticism, recently admitted:
“Yes, it can sting when I hear his criticism. »
And yet, even now, with Montembeault one of the few bright spots in the Canadiens’ season, Waite continues to downplay his performance.
“We have to be careful with Sam, he admitted that his legs were starting to feel heavy… that’s a sign of fatigue! »he insisted, as if to distract attention from his successes.
As Jakub Dobes prepares to play his first game in the NHL, Waite did not fail to express his concerns about him.
“I’m afraid we’ll bring it to Montreal and not play it enough.” he said, predicting that Dobes could suffer the same fate as Primeau.
But unlike Primeau, Dobes arrives with a solid reputation and impressive potential, which already raises a lot of hope among fans and management.
The unease in the 98.5 Sports studio was palpable. Louis Jean, with his incisive style, tried to push Waite to admit that he had perhaps overestimated Primeau and underestimated Montembeault.
But Waite, true to his stubbornness, refused to offer a mea culpa.
This refusal to accept his mistakes makes him look bad, not only to listeners, but also to the players he criticizes or praises.
Sometimes admitting your mistakes is the sign of being great. Waite doesn’t look so good.
Submitted on waivers today, Primeau’s future with the Canadian is now sealed. This decision marks the end of a long chapter of broken promises and bad predictions.
For Stéphane Waite, it’s a difficult lesson to digest. His emotional attachment to Primeau and his stubbornness in denigrating Montembeault created a gap between him and reality.
As he trained Primeau, he thinks it’s the 8th wonder in the world. It’s time he opened his eyes.
And today, as Montembeault continues to prove his worth, Waite remains stuck in the past, unable to admit he was wrong.
Stéphane Waite’s discomfort at Louis Jean’s microphone reflects an inability to accept the obvious: Cayden Primeau was not the prodigy announced, and Samuel Montembeault is, against all expectations, the real pillar in front of the Canadiens’ net.
If Waite had simply acknowledged his mistakes and offered his congratulations to Montembeault, he would have shown a greatness of spirit that many expect of him.
But by clinging to excuses and attacking the organization, he instead leaves the image of a man unable to turn the page.
The time has come for Waite, like Primeau, to accept reality and look to the future.
But it seems that this moment of truth will not arrive today.
Instead of celebrating the success of Samuel Montembeault, Waite focused on diverting attention to the supposed failures of the Canadiens organization in the development of Cayden Primeau.
This behavior, perceived by many as a lack of class, reveals a difficulty in admitting that he was wrong all along.
Since his arrival with the Canadian, Samuel Montembeault has had to deal with constant doubts. These critiques, fueled by Waite, went well beyond simple technical analyses:
“Montembeault is just a goalkeeper by default. He doesn’t have the qualities of a number one, and Primeau is much more talented,” Waite repeated tirelessly.
But the reality today is very different. Montembeault has been able to progress thanks to resilience and an exemplary work ethic.
His relentlessness allowed him not only to establish himself as a reliable pillar for the Canadian, but also to attract the attention of decision-makers at Hockey Canada.
His appointment as goalkeeper for the national team is striking proof of his qualities and his constant progress.
During his appearance on 98.5 Sports, Waite seemed unable to offer sincere congratulations to Montembeault. Instead, he preferred to divert the subject to criticize the Canadian organization and defend Primeau, his former protégé.
“We didn’t help Cayden Primeau. He was poorly supervised, and that explains his fall. »
These comments, although they highlight certain problems in Primeau’s management, hardly mask Waite’s refusal to recognize Montembeault’s success.
Worse still, they reflect an inability to admit that he was seriously mistaken about the future of the two goalkeepers.
Waite never hid his skepticism toward Montembeault, but his criticisms became personal on several occasions.
“He’s one of the worst number ones in the league. It only holds thanks to circumstances,” he declared in the middle of the season, a comment which resonates today as a gratuitous and unfounded attack.
These judgments, combined with Primeau’s fierce defense despite abysmal performances, created persistent unease.
Samuel Montembeault, for his part, chose to respond on the ice, where it really counts.
Cayden Primeau, often presented by Waite as a prodigy in the making, failed to live up to expectations. With statistics that place him among the worst goalies in the NHL, it is clear that he no longer represents the future of the Canadian.
Yet instead of admitting that Primeau fell short, Waite continues to blame the organization. He refuses to accept that Primeau had multiple opportunities, but simply did not know how to seize them.
This refusal to accept his mistakes contrasts sharply with the attitude of Montembeault, who, despite incessant criticism, continued to work in the shadows to become the goalkeeper he is today.
Louis Jean attempted, on several occasions, to bring the discussion back to Montembeault’s accomplishments. But Waite, true to form, preferred to delve deeper into his justifications.
Admitting your mistakes could have been a moment of grace, a sign of greatness of spirit. But instead, Waite retreated into defensive rhetoric, seeking to downplay Montembeault’s accomplishments and deflect attention toward Primeau.
While Waite continues to defend the indefensible, Montembeault advances, focused on his goal of establishing himself as an elite goaltender.
Samuel Montembeault demonstrated that it was possible to overcome obstacles with class and perseverance. Stéphane Waite, for his part, leaves behind the image of a stubborn critic, incapable of recognizing reality.
Ultimately, hockey, like life, rewards those who work behind the scenes and let their actions speak for them.
Montembeault is living proof of this, and his journey is a lesson for all those who still doubt him.
Stéphane Waite would do well to take note.
