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Montreal Canadiens: Cayden Primeau gets the edge over Jacob Olofsson

By Omar L

BROSSARD, QC - JULY 03: Montreal Canadiens Rookie goalie Cayden Primeau (39) waiting for a shot during the Montreal Canadiens Development Camp on July 3, 2017, at Bell Sports Complex in Brossard, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BROSSARD, QC - JULY 03: Montreal Canadiens Rookie goalie Cayden Primeau (39) waiting for a shot during the Montreal Canadiens Development Camp on July 3, 2017, at Bell Sports Complex in Brossard, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Montreal Canadiens prospects Cayden Primeau and Jacob Olofsson went head-to-head Thursday at the World Junior Summer Showcase.

The round robin had an exciting start to it at the World Junior Summer Showcase in the USA-Sweden game. After gaining a 3-1 lead in the first period, the US rallied back to tie the game up and eventually get the win in overtime. The match featured Montreal Canadiens prospects Cayden Primeau and Jacob Oloffson who had their own contributions to their respective teams.

Unfortunately, Primeau had a shaky night, but it’s important to remember that this is a game in August. Sweden got on the board in 14 seconds after Rickard Hugg had a breakaway fall into his lap after Mikey Anderson was caught too low in the zone. It was a similar story in the final minutes of the first after Isacc Lunderstrom ripped a shot over Primeau’s shoulder off a defensive zone turnover.

The young goaltender was able to down things a bit for Team USA after that. Primeau only allowed one more goal on Sweden’s next 14 shots. He was positionally sound, taking care of and redirecting rebounds to safe areas. Everyone is entitled to a rough start, even goalie prospects who continue to be praised for their stellar play.

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Olofsson had another solid game as Sweden’s number one centre. The second-round pick had new linemates in Olle Lycksel and Fabian Zetterlund. While the game went into the third period tied at three goals, the three forwards combined for the tally to put them up by one with nearly 11 minutes left.

Olofsson got a secondary assist on the eventual cross-ice magic from Lycksel and Zetterlund. However, the game gained more life after Josh Norris scored to tie the game again at four sending things into overtime.

Vancouver Canucks 2018 first-round pick Quinn Hughes got the US the win with a ridiculous play to Norris. Primeau rebounded well from a less than ideal start to get the win making 19 saves on 23 shots (.826 save percentage). It’s a tough break for Olofsson and Sweden who started to the game strong but wasn’t able to finish the job.

That said, the young centre is continuing the positive trajectory course that he’s established for himself since the World Junior Summer Showcase began. Olofsson is strong on both sides of the puck and makes the little moves that lead to scoring chances. One of these moments was captured by David St-Louis of Habs Eyes on the Prize.

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There’s no telling where the 18-year-old can take his game if he continues to work on it. A cynical take I’ve seen are comparisons to Jacob de La Rose. But I think it’s safe to say that there is a lot more in the foundation for Olofsson that can make him an impact player in the future.

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