The 2024 year was supposed to be different for the Montreal Canadiens. They believed their rebuild was starting to end, and they wondered whether 2024 would end with them looking ahead to a run at the playoffs in 2025. The year ended with a string of wins that elevated them to sixth place in the Atlantic Division, but they are still seven points behind in a playoff race. This series will examine how each player performed over the 2024 calendar year. Next up is struggling goaltender Cayden Primeau.
Primeau's 2023-24 season showed some good signs for the future of his Canadiens career. He recorded a 2.99 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage overall, which was boosted after a successful second half of the season. The Canadiens believed his second half would lead to a tandem with Sam Montembeault in 2024-25.
However, the reality was much worse than that, as Primeau has turned into a goaltender that the coaching staff can't trust to start even one game down the stretch run of 2024. Primeau started just one game in December and got into more action on December 12 when Montembeault came out of the net with 11 minutes remaining. He allowed three goals on seven shots, seemingly cementing his destiny in Montreal.
Montembeault started ten straight games leading into the holiday break, which makes it seem like the organization has lost all trust in him as a goaltender. It wouldn't be surprising to see the Canadiens make a move at some point in the coming weeks. Primeau would have no one to blame but himself, as he owns a 4.70 goals-against average and a .836 save percentage. We hope Primeau can rediscover his game that allowed him a full-time opportunity in Montreal, but it's going to take some work.
Cayden Primeau's 2024 Highlights
It's hard to look any farther than Primeau's 41-save shutout against the Columbus Blue Jackets last March. The Canadiens' defense was allowing a significant number of scoring opportunities at this point, which came true in the rest of his starts when there were games in which he allowed 4+ goals and still had a save percentage above .900.
PRIMEAU PERFECTION!
— NHL (@NHL) March 13, 2024
Cayden Primeau (@cpreems29) backstops the @CanadiensMTL to victory with his second @pepsi shutout of the season! 🚫 pic.twitter.com/QccBZYKZ9J
It was his second shutout in four starts, but the Blue Jackets performance was much more impressive. Primeau also had a 13-save shutout against the Anaheim Ducks.