Cayden Primeau's Future in Jeopardy as Montreal Canadiens Make Roster Moves
The Canadiens have made some recent moves that led many to believe Cayden Primeau's future was in jeopardy, as the young goalie hasn't played well either.
The Montreal Canadiens called up goaltender Jakub Dobes from the Laval Rocket.
Starter Samuel Montembeault had been overused in 10 straight games in demanding situations, and the Canadiens are looking to take some load off the goalie's shoulders as they continue on their six-game road trip.
The 23-year-old Jakub Dobes will most likely make his NHL debut this weekend in back-to-back games against Florida and Tampa Bay with a very good chance of seeing more in a very busy schedule this week.
Cayden Primeau, once a potential backup, has seemingly lost the team's trust with his inconsistent play this season.
Cayden Primeau's struggles this season, 4.70 goals-against average and.836 save percentage, were a far cry from his promising numbers last season.
He could be put on waivers, but with such upside and flashes of NHL-caliber play in his past, there's a good chance another team would claim the 25-year-old, and that perhaps is not something the Canadiens are necessarily ready to immediately do.
Dobes, a 2020 fifth-round pick from Ostrava, Czechia, has been impressive in the AHL this season with a 9-3-1 record and.910 save percentage.
His consistent play brings hope that he might help provide the Canadiens with some much-needed support. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Dobes proved to be steady and resilient, two elements lacking in Primeau's game over the past few weeks.
Samuel Montembeault, now cemented as a legitimate No. 1 NHL goaltender, has thrived with the recognition to Team Canada but might use some time off to his advantage.
The Canadiens need to manage his load without losing momentum as they head into a crowded stretch of games before Jan. 6.
Putting in Dobes is a clear sign the team is working to preserve their best hockey of the season while also continuing to build their depth at goalie.
