Maple Leafs Still Being Coy About Cayden Primeau's Debut With the Team

When the news broke about Joseph Woll's leave of absence, the Toronto Maple Leafs moved quickly to claim Cayden Primeau off waivers from the Carolina Hurricanes to solidify their crease prior to the start of the season.

While Primeau is not yet a proven NHL number two, there's clear upside there. Primeau has appeared in 55 NHL games in his career, posting a .884 save percentage, which is nothing to write home about, but it's certainly a start for the young goaltender.

Admittedly, he's not a consistent NHL goalie, but last season, Primeau showed improvement: in 23 games with the Montreal Canadiens during the 2023-24 season, he recorded a .910 save percentage, demonstrating he can perform at a high level.

For the Maple Leafs, Primeau represents a necessary option, as Anthony Stolarz can't be expected to start every game. With a demanding back-to-back against the Nashville Predators and Detroit Red Wings coming up, Primeau will likely see some action, though that is yet to be confirmed.

The coaching staff has been tight-lipped about specifics, but Craig Berube offered some praise during recent comments:

While that doesn't definitively confirm a start, it does indicate that the staff is seriously considering him for one of the next two starts.

Managing Primeau's workload will be a priority. His career-high for NHL games played in a single season is 34, so pushing him too hard too soon could be detrimental. Stolarz's recent injury history only emphasizes the importance of carefully spacing starts between the two goalies.

Leafs Nation is eager for clarity, but as always with Berube, he's keeping his cards close to the vest. What's clear is that Primeau's presence adds depth to the roster and gives the Maple Leafs flexibility heading into a tough early-season schedule.