The distance to be covered is not great for a Canadiens player to join the Laval Rocket. Getting from the Bell Center to Place Bell only takes about 30 minutes by metro – or six hours by car during rush hour, depending.
Posted at 4:38 p.m.
At present, however, two different worlds exist on either side of the Viau Bridge.
Cayden Primeau has seen this before, but never as much as these days. At Rocket practice on Monday morning, the atmosphere was good, and the young man was quick to follow the trend.
Drills executed at high intensity, players who celebrate a goal as if it were the last of their career, others who whistle spectacular saves. The goalkeeper who gives himself body and soul and who, above all, smiles.
A ton of pressure was lifted from Primeau’s shoulders when the Habs announced they had traded him to the Rocket on Saturday. The arrival of veteran Andrew Hammond, acquired from the Minnesota Wild, has (finally) allowed management to send their goalie to the American League. Because in the NHL, it was not going at all.
The 22-year-old American has finished just four of the games he has started. Among the 63 goaltenders in the league who have seen action in 10 or more games, he ranks last in both goals-against average (4.88) and save percentage (.866). Lately, it seemed to get visibly worse.
As well put it bluntly: since the start of the season, Cayden Primeau has been the worst goaltender in the NHL. And he did not try to hide that things were not going well for him in Montreal.
“I was no longer the same goalkeeper as at the start of the season, he admitted Monday after the training session. I’m excited to come back [à Laval]. I learned a lot of things with the Canadian, I will now continue to build my game here. »
The work indeed began on day 1 of his return to the minors. Primeau spent at least 20 minutes alone with Marco Marciano, the Rocket’s goaltending coach. The two specified technical elements, but also, and above all, chatted.
“I want to get back to the level of play I should be at, and the one I know I can reach,” Primeau said.
Unexpected
If all had gone as planned, Primeau would have probably spent the entire season in the American League.
When it was learned that Carey Price would miss the start of the Canadiens schedule, ex-GM Marc Bergevin acquired Samuel Montembeault to assist Jake Allen. However, since his last recall on December 27, he has not been demoted. He lost all six of his games…and was forced into self-isolation after contracting COVID-19.
On the ice, nothing worked. Inevitably, his mental state was not at the top either, the result of the bad goals that followed one another.
“During the matches, you’re not supposed to think about anything other than playing, but I started to overanalyze everything,” he says. I complicated my life. That’s why I want to simplify things today. »
Although being removed from a game is part of a goalkeeper’s life, returning to the bench after one or two repeated periods is “certainly not ideal”, he euphemised. However, “it comes with the position”. “That’s why I wanted to be a goalkeeper, to be the last line of defense, the one that breaks or saves the game, recalled Primeau. One of the most important things is not to go too high when things are going well, or too low when things are going badly. »
It is this balance that he will try to find in Laval.
Moreover, he never felt abandoned along the way, he says. His family and friends supported him through the storm. In addition, at the Canadian, “I think there is not a person who has not come to see me to talk to me and find out how I was doing”. “Everyone wanted to help me, and I’m very grateful for that. »
“I don’t want to fall into clichés or pretend that I’m happy with what happened, but I want to take the positive from it and use it to move forward. It was tough going through it, but it’s going to help me in the long run. »
“Not worried”
Not only was Primeau welcomed with open arms by his Rocket teammates, but they ensured their goaltender had all the tools needed to bounce back.
“It’s the same Cayden as before,” defenseman Josh Brook said. He is very strong mentally, he is consistent, you always know what to expect from him. He’s an amazing guy and a great goalkeeper. I’m not worried about him. »
“He arrived with the right attitude, confirmed Xavier Ouellet, team captain. Sometimes a change of dynamic can help. It changes quickly, hockey, you never know what will happen. He is well surrounded with the group of coaches and players we have. »
The Rocket begin a streak of 15 games in 25 days this week. If the Habs’ goalies stay healthy and Primeau remains in the minors, he will have the chance to assert himself in a winning context, while the CH academy tries to secure his place for the playoffs.
“He will turn the page quickly, predicted head coach Jean-François Houle. It’s part of learning a young goalkeeper, I don’t think it will affect him in the long term. If he wants to play in the NHL one day, he’s going to have to get over that. »
This step back will not do him any harm.