Sportsnet’s Eric Engels is reporting that the Montreal Canadiens are expected to sign goalie prospect Cayden Primeau to an entry-level contract. The deal is likely to be announced in the coming days.
Montreal Canadiens to Sign Cayden Primeau
#Canadiens goalie prospect Cayden Primeau is expected to sign his entry-level contract in the coming days, @EricEngels reports.https://t.co/en72kiTiOK
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 30, 2019
Primeau just recently finished his second season with the Northeastern University Huskies on Saturday. The team lost to Cornell in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
In 35 games this season, Primeau posted a record of 25-9-1 with a goals-against average of 2.00 and a save percentage of .936. He also recorded four shutouts. Northeastern defeated Boston College to win the Hockey East tournament. Primeau was named the MVP of the tournament.
Primeau also represented Team USA at the 2019 World Junior Championships. He made five starts and helped the team secure a silver medal. Primeau posted a 1.61 GAA and .936 SV% during the tournament.
Primeau was drafted in the seventh round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. He will join the Laval Rocket for the remainder of the season. He is the son of former NHLer Keith Primeau.
What This Means for the Future
With Primeau turning pro, the Canadiens add some more depth to the goaltending position. Primeau has been a pleasant surprise for a seventh-round pick. The Canadiens traded to acquire a seventh-round pick in order to draft him. He had been projected to be a third or fourth round pick. The move is starting to look like it could be the potential steal of the draft.
The Habs already have Charlie Lindgren and Michael McNiven in the pipeline so adding Primeau will create some healthy competition. Primeau, however, is starting to look like he is the successor to Carey Price.
With Antti Niemi‘s contract coming to an end at the end of the season, the Habs will be looking for another backup. Charlie Lindgren could potentially make the jump to the big club. He has looked good in his small sample size at the NHL level. The Habs signed him to a three-year contract extension in the off-season.
If Lindgren does make the jump, this will leave a goalie tandem of Primeau and McNiven in Laval. It would most likely be a 1A/1B situation to start. The reigns will likely be handed over to Primeau, though. The Habs will also most likely bring back Connor LaCouvee, who should take over the starting role in the ECHL.
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