Since his descent with the Laval Rocket, Cayden Primeau has continued to make a name for himself, both on and off the ice.
Rumors surrounding his future in the NHL are gaining momentum as several teams keep a close eye on the American goaltender.
Ottawa, Edmonton and Los Angeles seem to have Primeau in their sights.
However, Kent Hughes, general manager of the Canadiens, seems to be playing it safe by not wanting to give up his young goaltender to a division rival, which further complicates things for teams like the Ottawa Senators.
Since his return to the Rocket, Primeau has posted impressive numbers that place him among the best goaltenders in the AHL.
In four games, he has a perfect record of four victories, including a shutout, a goals against average of 1.48 and an efficiency percentage of .939.
Statistics that have nothing to envy of those of Jakub Dobes, the young Czech goalkeeper who took his place with the Canadian.
Observers are unanimous: Primeau benefits from the regular pace of play that he never really had in Montreal.
“I focused on playing and finding a little rhythm, and I see that I am more focused when I play more consistently and am more exposed to the rhythm of a match”confided Primeau after a recent Rocket training.
It’s no secret that Primeau still can’t digest the way Martin St-Louis and the Canadiens organization managed his development.
Since his descent, his comments have been heavy with innuendo, suggesting that he felt underused in Montreal.
“Nothing replaces a match, you can practice as much as you want, but the speed of a game is different”he repeated.
Words that directly refer to the lack of playing time he had with the Habs.
Before his descent, Primeau had already expressed his dissatisfaction with his situation, but his return to the AHL allows him to strengthen his point of view.
His tone remains measured, but it is clear that he has not forgotten the treatment he received from St. Louis and the organization.
With Linus Ullmark seriously injured on the Ottawa Senators, interest in Primeau has intensified. The Edmonton Oilers, facing uncertainties in net with Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard, could also be interested in his services.
The Los Angeles Kings, who are looking for a long-term solution to solidify their goalie tandem, who have no confidence in David Rittich as a 2nd goalie, could also enter the dance.
We bet that Marc Bergevin speaks very highly of Primeau to his boss, Rob Blake.
However, Kent Hughes is playing it safe. Having already rejected the advances of the Senators for David Savard and refused to offer them Primeau via transaction, the CH GM wants nothing to do with helping a team that competes with Montreal for a place in the playoffs.
“He puts himself in a position to be looked at. If it’s not by us, it could be by another team. He wants to play in the National League,” said Pascal Vincent, head coach of the Rocket, recognizing the opportunity this period represents for Primeau.
Primeau is currently at a crossroads. As his value increases in the American League, he must prove that he is still capable of competing at the highest level.
The question that arises is whether his future will pass through Montreal or whether a transaction is inevitable.
Kent Hughes, for his part, must juggle asset management and the need not to strengthen a direct opponent.
If he decides to send Primeau elsewhere, it will likely be to a team in the West, far from the Atlantic Division rivalry.
Cayden Primeau no longer has a future in Montreal. Everyone knows it. His resentment towards Martin St-Louis, the presence of Jakub Dobes, and the upcoming arrival of Jacob Fowler mean that the American goaltender will have to take his next chance elsewhere as a restricted free agent.
Until then, he continues to shine with the Rocket, waiting for the phone call that will change his career.
However, if Primeau remains hopeful of continuing his career in the NHL, he does not hide his resentment towards the Montreal Canadiens, and more specifically towards its head coach, Martin St-Louis, whom he regularly targets in his statements.
Since his return to Laval, Primeau continues to suggest that he never had the opportunity to truly flourish under the leadership of St-Louis.
Without ever naming him directly, he points the finger at the management of his playing time and the lack of opportunities he had to prove his value in Montreal.
“I focused on playing and finding a little rhythm, and I see that I am more focused when I play more consistently and am exposed to the rhythm of a match”confided Primeau.
A sentence that says a lot about what he considers to be an injustice in Montreal, where he was often left on the bench for long periods.
When he was asked about his time with the CH, he added:
-“Nothing replaces a match. You can practice as much as you want, but the speed of a game is different. »
A message that directly targets St-Louis and his staff, accusing them of having left him in the shadows instead of giving him regular starts.
Primeau also mentioned that in Laval, he must deserve every start, but that unlike in Montreal, he at least feels in control of his fate.
“Here, I won’t be given matches, I’ll have to earn them. »
This statement clearly proves his impression that in Montreal he never had the chance to truly fight for a place, instead finding himself stuck in an uncomfortable position.
One of the most revealing elements of his resentment towards the CH was his following declaration:
“Maybe I was afraid of making mistakes. In fact, “fear” may not be the right word. It’s more that I didn’t want to make mistakes. There is a fine line between losing confidence and not wanting to make mistakes. »
These comments reflect a lack of confidence placed by the coach and the organization, where the pressure of the slightest error weighed too heavily on his shoulders.
While Primeau recognizes that he must fight to find a place in the NHL, it is clear that he is motivated by deep frustration.
His time in Montreal visibly marked him, and the idea of proving to his detractors that they were wrong seems to be a driving force for him.
With Jakub Dobes taking over and enjoying a string of successes with the CH, the situation could not be clearer: Primeau no longer has a future in Montreal. He himself admitted it half-heartedly by declaring that he wants to show himself in his best light “to be watched, if not by the rest of us, it could be by another team. »
The Montreal media did not fail to highlight this increasingly sharp tone in the goalkeeper’s comments.
Primeau knows that his future lies elsewhere. He’s just trying to show that he deserves another chance, but his bitterness is .
Primeau, who was once seen as the heir to Carey Price, saw his star fade over the seasons. His failure to seize the few opportunities he was given and the meteoric rise of young talents like Dobes and Jacob Fowler sealed his fate.
Today, Kent Hughes is in a strong position. With a Canadian who surprises and who is one point from the playoffs, the GM can negotiate Primeau without pressure, knowing that the options are numerous.
Edmontons appear to be the more realistic option, while the Oilers are desperate for a long-term solution in net.
But watch out for the Los Angeles Kings. After all, it was Marc Bergevin who selected Primeau, he who is a very good friend of his father Keith.
Primeau is determined to force the hand of an NHL team to give him a second chance. But time is running out, and every match in Laval is an audition.
For the moment, he remains focused and avoids opening the door too wide to his frustrations, but his message is clear: he wants to turn the page on Montreal and prove to Martin St-Louis that he was wrong not to grant him more opportunities.
For the Canadian, it’s one less headache. Primeau is no longer in the plans and his current good performance facilitates the work of Hughes, who can wait for the best possible offer.
While the goalkeeper is scathing towards St-Louis, he is delighted with the success of Jakub Dobes.
Officially, the American goalkeeper is enthusiastic about the success of his rival and the Canadian. He wanted to highlight the work accomplished by Dobes and the positive momentum of the CH in his absence:
“What he accomplishes is remarkable, it must be recognized. He is playing impressively and the team is functioning very well at the moment.
Everyone works hard, and I’m really happy for them. I hope this good momentum will continue. »
But in the shadow of this statement, a question remains: who really believes in his sincerity?
Is Primeau really happy with Dobes’ success, or is he simply trying to keep up appearances while the exit door opens up for him?
Those who know him well know that Primeau has not digested his frustrating time in Montreal and that he sees Dobes shine where he failed as a final slap to his pride.
Clearly, Primeau wants to be polite on the surface, but his recent statements show that he has not yet turned the page on his difficult experience in Montreal.
His resentment towards Martin St-Louis is obvious, and he seems to use every opportunity to point out that he might have been able to do better if he had been given the opportunities he feels he deserves.
Whether he likes it or not, Primeau is at a crossroads in his career, and for many, it’s hard to believe his support for Dobes is sincere.
Only one solution is available to him: prove on the ice that his time in Laval is the start of a renewal, and not the end of a career.
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