What a difference a month makes.
In the case of Northeastern freshman goaltender Cayden Primeau, the transformation is night and day. The Voorhees, N.J., native has already blossomed into a difference maker for the Huskies.
Primeau made 20 saves, including three game-changing stops, in Friday’s 2-1 win over Vermont. Northeastern, more known for its highflying offense, hadn’t won a 2-1 game since Dec. 19, 2015.
“Cayden Primeau made some big saves for us. They had one breakaway and a partial breakaway when it was 1-0. If they scored, that might have been the game. He stood tall for us,” Northeastern head coach Jim Madigan said after the game.
Playing in a tight, low scoring league game can be challenging for any goaltender, but especially a freshman. Primeau appeared up for the task, which should serve him well down the road.
“It’s nice for Cayden to step up and emerge in these types of games. These games are a lot harder to play than when you’re up 5-1. He made some key saves. It’s a confidence builder for him,” Madigan commented.
The seventh round pick of the Montreal Canadiens has started four consecutive games for the Huskies, posting a .921 save percentage during that span. While the numbers are significantly better than his first three collegiate starts, he’s passing the eye test as well.
Primeau is doing a better job on rebound control and tracking pucks in traffic. He has the size and athletic ability to be considered a legitimate pro prospect, but he’s still working on refining some of the finer points of the position.
“We’ve worked on [rebound control] with the goalie coach. He’s gotten better in all aspects. He’s gotten better with tips and screens. He’s a little more aggressive. It takes a while to get acclimated to this level,” said Madigan.
In addition to the physical tools he possesses, Primeau’s pedigree is worth noting. His father, Keith, and uncle, Wayne, both played in the NHL. Keith played 909 NHL games with the Detroit Red Wings, Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers. Knowing what it takes to be a pro and being around the game as a youngster is beneficial for the younger Primeau as he continues his development.
“It’s good for him because he’s evolving as a goalie. It’s a tough position to play. He’s getting better. He’s going to go through the ups and down that freshmen do, but we’re starting to see that consistency,” Madigan explained.
Primeau has another advantage at Northeastern. In practice he gets to go up against two of the top offensive players in all of college hockey, Vancouver Canucks prospect Adam Gaudette and Chicago Blackhawks prospect Dylan Sikura.
“Every day going against the top guys in the nation has helped me get better. I’ve been here for a couple of months. I’ve improved drastically. That’s all I’m trying to do everyday,” said Primeau, who spent his draft year with the Lincoln Stars in the USHL.
For now, the Canadiens organization can watch Primeau grow as a player in Hockey East with the knowledge that there is upside with their final pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
“The good news is I don’t think he’s where he’s going to get. There is a lot of untapped potential. Because of his work ethic, he’s going to get better,” Madigan said.
