Hurricanes Place Former Canadiens Goalie Cayden Primeau on Waivers
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Carolina Hurricanes have placed former Canadiens goalie Cayden Primeau on waivers.
The Waivers Process And Carolina’s Roster Decisions
Placing a player on waivers initiates a strict 24-hour window where rival NHL front offices can submit a claim to acquire his existing contract. If every team passes on the opportunity, the player clears waivers and the assigning club gains the roster flexibility to send him to their minor league affiliate. In Cayden Primeau’s case, clearing unclaimed means the Carolina Hurricanes can assign him directly to the Chicago Wolves, their American Hockey League affiliate.
This organizational maneuvering highlights the delicate balance front offices maintain between preserving NHL depth and managing minor league development. When clubs need to shuffle goaltending assets to comply with roster limits, sports management consultants and specialized executive search firms often assist franchises in restructuring player personnel pipelines. Evaluating goaltending depth charts requires precise analytics and quick administrative action.
Primeau’s Professional Trajectory And Recent Statistics
The Montreal Canadiens originally selected Primeau in the seventh round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, taking him 199th overall. Over six seasons with Montreal from 2019-20 to 2024-25, he appeared in 55 games, recording a 13-24-7 record alongside an .884 save percentage and a 3.69 goals-against average.
Last season, Primeau spent the majority of his time in the American Hockey League with the Chicago Wolves. In 39 appearances for the AHL club, he posted a solid 21-11-7 record, a .916 save percentage, and a 2.41 goals-against average. His brief stint with the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2025-26 campaign yielded three games played, a 2-1-0 record, an .838 save percentage, and a 4.30 goals-against average.
Assessing Goalie Depth Across The League
Franchises around the league constantly monitor the waiver wire for affordable depth options to insulate their rosters against injuries. While Primeau has demonstrated strong numbers at the minor league level, his struggles to consistently break out at the NHL level explain why teams might hesitate to submit a claim.
If he clears waivers, his immediate future points toward anchoring the crease for the Chicago Wolves. Organizations navigating sudden roster changes or salary cap adjustments frequently lean on specialized sports law and contract management professionals to handle the complex paperwork associated with player assignments. Whether Primeau finds a new home through a waiver claim or reports to the minor leagues, his career enters a pivotal new chapter.