Montreal Canadiens Goaltender Placed on Waivers, per Elliotte Friedman
The Montreal Canadiens have struggled this season, and recently made a roster move by placing goaltender Cayden Primeau on waivers on Saturday afternoon.
It's been a tough go this year for the Montreal Canadiens. Sitting at 14-17-3 this season, they are near the bottom of the Atlantic and have been one of the league's worst teams at giving up goals.
All of their netminders have struggled this season, and unfortunately for Cayden Primeau, his time with the club has come to an end. NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman reports that Primeau was placed on waivers by the Habs on Saturday.
Teams will have 24 hours to place a claim on Primeau or Montreal will need to assign him to Laval, or decide another avenue with their backup goaltender. In correspondence, the team called up Jakub Dobes from Laval in response.
The former Ohio State netminder will make his NHL debut against the Florida Panthers on Saturday afternoon.
Could Cayden Primeau Be An Option For The Toronto Maple Leafs?
With Montreal waiving Primeau and bringing in Dobes, it signals the end for the Michigan native. A backup to Sam Montembeault this season, Primeau was fairyl unsuccessful in his short NHL venture.
In 11 games this season he went 2-3-1 but had an abysmal 4.70 GAA and .836 SV%. It's a far cry from his venture with Montreal last season where he went 8-9-4 with a 2.99 GAA and .910 SV% as he solidified himself as a decent emergency backstop when injuries occur.
The son of former NHL star Keith Primeau will now have questions about his future although one team who could have interest is a heated rival.
With Anthony Stolarz out for another few weeks, questions around Matt Murray and Joseph Woll's health, and the inconsistency of Dennis Hildeby; the once stout Leafs goaltending situation has a lot of what if's.
Adding Primeau wouldn't be the flashiest move, but it would provide Toronto an NHL-ready goaltender who can fill in as a stop-gap measure. A free agent at the end of the year, he's only $890,000 for a cap hit, and with some work he could be brought aboard.
While it would seem like a solid option, it's tough to see Toronto claiming Primeau given the logjam they already have even with the injuries. Woll and Murray are healthy, and Hildeby is getting back into form in the AHL; not to mention Artur Ahktyamov. It's hard to find a spot for the young goalie.
Primeau will find out his fate on Sunday afternoon after the 2pm waiver claim deadline has passed.
