Primeau may be an NHL goalkeeper, according to Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes, therefore he wasn’t going to chance losing him to another team on waivers by sending him down to the AHL’s Laval Rocket. The Canadiens have carried three goalies this season because Hughes feels that another team would claim Primeau.
Hughes rewarded Samuel Montembeault in December with a three-year, US$9.45 million contract extension that will begin in the following season. Montembeault has proven this season that he can be a No. 1 goaltender. According to Hughes, Primeau can serve as Montembeault’s backup until Jacob Fowler is prepared to play in the National Hockey League. Fowler, a 19-year-old freshman at Boston College, was taken by the Canadiens in the third round (69th overall) in the previous NHL Draft. He has a 24-5-1 record, a 2.21 goals-against average, and a.923 save percentage.
Despite playing in just 13 games this season, Primeau has improved significantly from his past NHL experiences, as evidenced by his 5-6-1 record, 3.06 GAA, and.901 save percentage. Primeau recorded a.852 save percentage in his three Canadiens appearances from the previous season. The previous season, he had an.868 save percentage in 12 games.
Jake Allen will probably be traded during the off-season with Primeau and Montembeault starting as the two goalies for the upcoming campaign if Hughes is unable to transfer him before the March 8 trade deadline. The total salary-cap impact for them would only be $4.04 million USD.
