The Forgotten Goalie Prospect: The Montreal Canadiens Michael McNiven

LAVAL, QC - DECEMBER 12: Goaltender Michael McNiven #40 of the Laval Rocket looks on against the Belleville Senators during the AHL game at Place Bell on December 12, 2018 in Laval, Quebec, Canada. The Laval Rocket defeated the Belleville Senators 3-1. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
LAVAL, QC - DECEMBER 12: Goaltender Michael McNiven #40 of the Laval Rocket looks on against the Belleville Senators during the AHL game at Place Bell on December 12, 2018 in Laval, Quebec, Canada. The Laval Rocket defeated the Belleville Senators 3-1. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

The Montreal Canadiens have one of the best goaltender’s on the planet in Carey Price and an excellent prospect in Cayden Primeau. However, they also have Michael McNiven who is out to prove he shouldn’t be forgotten.

What do Ed Belfour, Sergei Bobrovsky and Michael McNiven have in common? Some people may view that question as rather puzzling since the first two goalies were/are established NHL superstar goalies, while the latter has yet to crack the Montreal Canadiens lineup. The answer: All three of these netminders were passed over during their draft years and signed as free agents.

Not many players who go down that route turn out to be superstars; and, as things are looking so far this preseason, Michael McNiven might not even get the chance to prove himself a legitimate NHL quality goalie. At least not yet…

Ed Belfour, in fact, played 963 games in the NHL, winning 484 of them. He has a long list of personal accolades which include: the Calder Memorial Trophy winner (1990-91), two time Vezina Trophy winner (1990-91, 1992-93), numerous All Star appearances in the 1990s,  and several William Jennings trophies as well.

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Likewise, Sergei Bobrovsky has had many personal achievements at the NHL level, such as: 255 wins, several All Star game appearances, and two Vezina trophies of his own (2012-13, 2016-17). Michael McNiven, on the other hand, has never started an NHL game.

After being passed over in his draft year (2015), McNiven earned a try out with the Montreal Canadiens. He impressed Habs management so much that they signed him to an entry-level contract. His athleticism, work ethic, and compete level, all greatly endeared the 18 year old, 6’1, 214 lbs, Winnipeg, Manitoba native to management. It would the first stepping stone in the undrafted young man’s journey to the NHL. First, though, McNiven had to prove himself at the junior level.

Michael had three highly successful seasons with the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack (from 2014-2017). In fact, during his final season he had jaw-dropping numbers: he played 54 games that year, going 41-9-2, with a 2.30 GAA and a .915 SV%, with 6 shutouts. His play was so spectacular that he garnered both OHL goalie of the year honours, and CHL goalie of the year, as the preeminent junior goalie in all three Major Junior hockey divisions (OHL, WHL, QMJHL).

Certainly, that performance was outstanding and paved the way for McNiven’s path to professional hockey, the ECHL and The AHL, learning leagues where young players hone their craft before making the jump to the big show, the NHL.

LAVAL, QC – APRIL 03: Look on Laval Rocket goalie Michael McNiven (40) (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LAVAL, QC – APRIL 03: Look on Laval Rocket goalie Michael McNiven (40) (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

During his first professional season, McNiven found it difficult to adjust to the rigours of play at that level, both in the ECHL with the Brampton Beast, The Montreal Canadiens former farm team in that league, and the Laval Rocket, Montreal’s AHL minor club. His record that season for Laval, where he played in 25 games, was an abysmal 6-16-1, with a 3.50 GAA, and an .884 SV %. Those statistics are hardly awe-inspiring, but given that it he was a rookie goalie on a terrible Rocket team, we must take a measured approach to analyzing his worth.

In his second season with Laval, McNiven played much better, even though the team in front of him had only marginally improved. With new Laval Rocket head coach Joel Bouchard in place, McNiven began demonstrating his abilities and value to the Montreal Canadiens prospect pool. His numbers prove that point; he played in 30 games: his record of 11-15-3 may not be spectacular, but it was by far the best showing of any Rocket goalie, including Charlie Lindgren and Connor LaCouvee. More importantly than his record, his 2.52 GAA and .902 SV% with 2 shutouts, demonstrate that quality. McNiven started to find his game last year, one where we saw evidence of the junior superstar he was once.

To say that the crease is crowded in Laval this upcoming season is a gross understatement: Charlie Lindgren, Connor LaCouvee, and the recently signed to his ELC, American born star, Cayden Primeau, are all vying for spots on the team, along with McNiven. Essentially, if we delve into the Montreal Canadiens goalie hierarchy it goes something like this: Carey Price (number one), Keith Kinkaid (number two), Charlie Lindgren (number three), Michael McNiven (number four), Cayden Primeau (number five). While I do believe Primeau has a higher ceiling than any of these goalies not named “Price,” I put McNiven marginally ahead of him in the current hierarchy because of his age, maturity, and AHL experience.

There simply is not room on the Laval Rocket for three number one type goalies – and all of Lindgren, McNiven, and Primeau are these alpha-types, capable of playing tough minutes against tough competition, and carrying their respective teams on their backs. Last summer it looked like Lindgren would be Price’s backup on the Montreal Canadiens, but the signing of Keith Kinkaid has pushed Lindgren back down the depth chart, muddling the proposed tandem of McNiven/Primeau. Something has to give on that front. Whom exactly will be dealt or let go remains an open debate. However, one of the three who will not be shipped off is Cayden Primeau.

The 6’3 200lbs native of Voorhees, New Jersey, had an absolutely stellar career at Northeastern University. In his first season he played 34 games, going 19-8-5 with a 1.92 GAA, and a .931 SV%. In his second season he played 36 games, going 25-10-1, with a  2.09 GAA and a .933 SV%. Along the way he won the Hockey East Tournament championship (where he was MVP), the Mike Richter Award as top goalie in college hockey, he also won a silver medal at the World Junior Championship (where he was voted most outstanding goaltender of the tournament). That list alone is long and impressive, take into account his recent showing in the exhibition game against New Jersey, where he made a handful of highlight reel saves, and we observe a young man on the cusp of greatness.

Because of the well deserved hype surrounding Primeau, McNiven is getting overshadowed and overlooked. McNiven didn’t even get any ice time during the team’s recent trip to Bathurst, New Brunswick; instead, he backed up Charlie Lindgren for the entire game. That decision confuses me.

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As I see it, Charlie Lindgren should be the odd goalie out in Laval. He’s had a few years to prove his worth, and has not seized the reigns. He started off well in Montreal, but fizzled: he still is a quality goaltending prospect, but his ceiling is not as high as Primeau’s or McNiven’s. Primeau just turned 20 in August, and McNiven just turned 22 in July. Goalies take a little longer to develop than most other position players, and I believe Michael McNiven is primed to give his best season to date.

The ideal situation for the Laval Rocket, and the parent Montreal Canadiens,  is to tandem Primeau with McNiven and let the young alpha goalies battle it out for crease supremacy. Primeau has an impeccable resume and is hyped as the next Carey Price by some; McNiven, conversely, is almost forgotten, the underdog with a lot to prove to management. He is a fierce competitor, who never gives up on a shot. He will not give up his job in the net either. He would bring out the best in Cayden Primeau and vice-versa.

Finally, Michael McNiven will rarely ever be spoken in the same breath as Ed Belfour or Sergei Bobrovsky. He will likely never achieve the success and greatness of those goaltenders, but few ever will. However, if he is given the chance to prove himself, he will open management’s eyes to the quality they have with him.

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During a Hockey Night in Canada Coach’s Corner episode from a few years back, Don Cherry said that he had Price as a goalie in the annual CHL Prospects Game, and then he had McNiven as a goalie in the tournament almost a decade later, and declared McNiven was “as good as Price right now.” It seems that not only Primeau resembles Carey Price, but McNiven does as well. Let these two champions battle it out to prove who deserves to be Price’s would-be successor. That will most benefit Laval. That will best benefit the Montreal Canadiens. May the best goalie win!