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Montreal Canadiens Re-Sign Promising Goaltender Cayden Primeau To New Deal

By Richard Jelinek

MONTREAL, QC - NOVEMBER 18: Cayden Primeau #30 of the Montreal Canadiens tends the net against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period at Centre Bell on November 18, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Montreal Canadiens 6-0. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - NOVEMBER 18: Cayden Primeau #30 of the Montreal Canadiens tends the net against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period at Centre Bell on November 18, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Montreal Canadiens 6-0. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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The Montreal Canadiens have re-signed goaltender Cayden Primeau to a 3-year contract extension through the 2024/25 season, with an AAV of $890,000.

The 23-year-old Primeau was a seventh-round pick of Montreal (199th overall) in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Last season, he split time with Montreal and their AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket. For Montreal, Primeau appeared in 12 games, going 1-7-1 with a 4.62 GAA and a .868 save %. For Laval, he appeared in 33 games with a record of 16-12-3.

The contract extension breaks down into three salaries for Primeau. He will earn $770,000 in 2022/23, $800,000 in 2023/24, and $1.1 million in 2024/25.

The 6-foot-3 and 203-pound Primeau has appeared in 18 NHL games with a record of 3-10-2. Despite his record, Primeau is talented, young, and fully capable of turning this around. He is only 23 years old.

Primeau might not have the best stats as of right now, but we must remember he made his pro debut during the 2019/20 season. He is still young and goaltenders take the longest to develop. He still has a promising future ahead of him, and he has the skills to eventually take over the number one spot if everything goes well. The Canadiens do not have a superstar goaltender between the pipes but they have solid netminders capable of doing the job and making the Canadiens competitive.

Primeau’s time could come sooner than later. If both Allen and Montembeault fail to provide steady goaltending, then Primeau is up. He has great flexibility, plays the angels well, has above-average rebound control, and challenges the shooter. He can also provide insurance if Allen and Monetembeault go down with an injury. He has immense potential once he gets used to the NHL style of play and he could also be the future number one goaltender.

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Unless something major happens Jake Allen will go into training camp and the start of the 2022/23 season as the starter, with Samuel Montembeault and Primeau battling for a backup role. Whichever goaltender loses that battle will be sent to Laval. With Carey Price being placed on LTIR for the upcoming season the job is Allen’s to lose. The backup battle will be intense, although whichever goaltender is sent down will be the Laval starter and have a chance to show they belong in the NHL.

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