Everyone agrees that a household with three guardians is not ideal. But the Canadian would do well to keep Cayden Primeau for now.
Not only because there is a high risk of loss with waivers. But also and above all because Samuel Martimbeault and Jake Allen showed irregularities in the preparatory games.
Both have a goals-against average above four and save percentages well below .900.
Primeau fared better with a 2.05 goals-against average and a .932 efficiency average on shots made against him.
Not too late
Okay, these are still training camp stats. But prevention is better than cure.
If Martimbeault or Allen were out and Primeau was no longer there to take over, the Canadian would have to look outside his organization to find a goaltender with National League experience.
Primeau has the right physique for the job, he is 1.80 m tall and weighs 90 kg. His best moments came with the Laval Rocket when the Habs’ farm club reached the American League Finals in 2022.
He didn’t have the success expected last season, but at 24 he is still relatively young. He would choose his moment well if he were to find a way to assert himself this season.
What to do with Armia?
It was to be expected: Joel Armia claimed unclaimed waivers. This means the Canadian can send him to the Laval Rocket.
Would that be a good option?
It only depends on the person concerned. If Armia shows up in the Rocket with his head tucked in, he wouldn’t be a good ally for the many young people who will play on the Habs’ school team.
He would have to adopt the same attitude as Karl Alzner, who behaved like a professional in his two seasons at Laval.
Could Jean-François Houle convince him to do the same?
According to the website CapFriendly.com, Armia will receive a salary of 4.8 million this season and 3.8 million next year.
Enough to help him forget his pain.