Cayden Primeau

As a youth, Primeau played with the Philadelphia Revolution of the Eastern Hockey League (EHL), winning both Goaltender of the Year as well as Rookie of the Year honors during the course of the 2015–16 season.^[2] Thereafter, he joined the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League (USHL) for a single season where he participated in the annual CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game,^[3] as well as the USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, recording a shutout at the latter for the first time in the history of the showcase.^[4][5]

Primeau was stellar during his brief collegiate career with the Northeastern Huskies of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).^[6] In his freshman season, he posted 19 victories^[6] and helped Northeastern jump from eighth to second in the Hockey East conference standings. While the team did not fare well in the postseason, Primeau was named to the All-Hockey East Rookie Team, First Team, and won the conference goaltending title for possessing the lowest goals against average (GAA).^[7] The following season, he pushed the Huskies even further, winning a record 25 games for the program^[6] and earned Tournament MVP honors whereas Northeastern won their third Hockey East distinction.^[8] Despite faltering in the annual NCAA tournament, Primeau was still named an AHCA East First Team All-American and recipient of the Mike Richter Award presented to the best men's goaltender across NCAA Division I ice hockey.^[9]

Selected by the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the seventh round (199th overall) of the 2017 NHL entry draft,^[10] Primeau ended his college career following his sophomore season and signed an entry-level contract with the Canadiens on March 31, 2019.^[11] He was immediately assigned to Montreal's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Laval Rocket.^[11] Primeau was recalled from Laval on December 5, 2019^[10] and made his NHL debut against the Colorado Avalanche the same day, stopping 32 of 35 shots in a 3–2 loss.^[12] Shortly thereafter, he registered his first career NHL win in a 3–2 overtime effort versus the Ottawa Senators on December 11.^[13]

Playing primarily for Laval over the course of the 2021–22 and 2022–23 campaigns,^[14] the Canadiens began the 2023–24 season with three goaltenders on their active roster: Jake Allen, Sam Montembeault, and Primeau, with the latter no longer exempt from waivers and thus unable to be reassigned to the AHL ranks without the possibility of being lost to another team. This precipitated discussions about one of the three netminders being traded.^[15] After months of a continuous rotation system, Allen was ultimately dealt to the New Jersey Devils on March 8, 2024,^[16] allowing Primeau to assume the role as the Canadiens' primary backup goaltender.^[17] Just days later, Primeau would record his second career NHL shutout in a 3–0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Bell Centre on March 12.^[14] With 41 total saves, he would tie Tony Esposito for the franchise record of most saves by a rookie goaltender without allowing a goal established over half a century prior,^[18] and was subsequently recognized as the monthly recipient of the Canadiens' Molson Cup award.^[19] Primeau finished the 2023–24 season with an 8-9-4 record with both a 2.99 GAA and a .910 save percentage respectively.^[20]

Beginning the 2024–25 season in the Canadiens' backup role, Primeau would struggle immensely,^[21][22] resulting in being placed on waivers by Montreal following the annual holiday roster freeze.^[23] After going unclaimed, he rejoined Laval in late December.^[24] On January 3, 2025, Primeau posted 27 saves in a 2–1 overtime win versus the Abbotsford Canucks, his first AHL game in almost two years.^[25] With a record of 8-0-0, along with an 1.73 GAA and a .932 save percentage, he was recognized as the league's Goaltender of the Month for January 2025.^[26] Primeau finished the regular season with a 21-2-2 record, subsequently described by the league itself as "the best single-season record in AHL history." He was a co-recipient of the Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award, the Rocket having allowed the fewest goals of any team in the league (tied with the Syracuse Crunch),^[27] helping the team to claim the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy as AHL regular season champions.^[28] Prior to the commencement of Laval's Calder Cup campaign, Primeau was recalled by the Canadiens to once again serve as backup goaltender following an injury to Montembeault during Game 3 of their first round playoff series against the Washington Capitals.^[29] Days later, he returned to the Rocket midway through the team's divisional semifinals series against the Cleveland Monsters.^[30] He recorded his first AHL playoff shutout on May 25, leading the Rocket to victory over the Rochester Americans in the divisional finals.^[31]

Entering the offseason as a restricted free agent, Primeau was extended a qualifying offer by the Canadiens on June 30, 2025.^[32] That same day, he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a 7th-round pick in the 2026 NHL entry draft.^[33] On July 1, Primeau agreed to a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Hurricanes for the 2025–26 season.^[34] However, before playing a game for Carolina, Primeau was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 6 after goaltender Joseph Woll stepped away from the team for a personal matter.^[35] After appearing in three contests for the Leafs, recording two wins over that span, he was subsequently placed on waivers by Toronto on November 7 for the purpose of being sent to the AHL before being claimed by Carolina the next day.^[36] Due to underlying provisions in the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Hurricanes were permitted to send Primeau directly to their AHL affiliate Chicago Wolves without the need to clear waivers again.^[37]

Medal record
Representing  United States
Men's ice hockey
World Junior Championships
	2019 Canada
World U18 Championships
	2017 Slovakia
World Junior A Challenge
	2016 Canada
Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup
	2016 Slovakia/Czech Republic

Internationally, Primeau first represented Team USA at the 2015 Five Nations Cup held in Switzerland,^[38] splitting time in the decisive championship win over Germany.^[39]

At the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup,^[40] Primeau posted a 2.94 GAA and .854 save percentage in a silver medal effort.^[41] He then participated in the annual World Junior A Challenge where he went 3-1 en route to a gold medal victory, and was subsequently named to the tournament's All-Star Team.^[42]

The following year, Primeau was named to the United States national under-18 team for the World U18 Championships,^[43] winning a gold medal for his country despite not seeing any tournament play.^[44]

As part of the United States national junior team at the 2019 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, Primeau made five tournament starts towards a silver medal podium finish.^[45] He likewise was named to the United States men's national team for that year's IIHF World Championship,^[46] but ultimately did not appear in any games throughout.^[47]

He is the son of former NHL centreman Keith Primeau, and was born in Farmington Hills, Michigan prior to the family moving to Voorhees, New Jersey when Cayden was five months old following his father's trade to the Philadelphia Flyers in January 2000.^[48]

Primeau is an alumnus of Bishop Eustace Preparatory School.^[49]