REPORT: Pat Hickey Sends Clear Message About The Future Of Cayden Primeau And Lane Hutson
The goalie position for the Canadiens has seen improvement since the trade of Jake Allen. Additionally, a promising defense prospect might soon join the team. While it’s unlikely that Cayden Primeau will reach Carey Price’s level, the Canadiens would be content if he develops similarly to Charlie Lindgren. Lindgren, once in Primeau’s position, transitioned from college to the Canadiens but faced challenges behind established goalies like Price. Despite limited opportunities, Lindgren showcased his skills, eventually securing a significant role with the Capitals.
Although Montreal has historically had exceptional goalies like Dryden, Roy, and Price, most goalies require time to mature. Both Montembeault and Primeau have shown progress, especially since Allen’s departure. Primeau’s statistics have notably improved post-Allen trade, indicating his potential. The goaltending dynamics for the next season remain uncertain, with Primeau displaying better numbers, albeit with fewer appearances compared to Montembeault.
Despite some standout performances by Montembeault, particularly against Philadelphia, support was lacking against the Islanders, leading to a narrow defeat. Meanwhile, the Islanders continue their impressive streak, solidifying their position in the Metropolitan Division standings.
Lane Hutson come on down: The Canadiens have an opportunity to secure the signing of Lane Hutson, a highly regarded defenseman from a U.S. college, following Boston University’s loss to the University of Denver in the NCAA championships. Hutson, who has been undecided about leaving BU after two seasons, is anticipated to ink an entry-level deal and potentially debut in the NHL next week during one of the Canadiens’ final two games against Detroit.
Luke Tuch, a Canadiens prospect, initially put BU ahead in the scoring during the first period, but Tristan Lemyre from Mirabel equalized for Denver in the second period, with Tristan Broz netting the winning goal in overtime.
In the upcoming final, Denver will face off against Boston College, the top-ranked team. Jacob Fowler, a potential future contender for Montreal’s goaltending roster, showcased his skills as Boston College triumphed over Michigan with a 4-0 shutout. Despite being outshot by Michigan, Fowler’s standout performance secured his 14th consecutive win, marking an NCAA-record 32nd win for the season.
Fowler, drafted by Montreal in the third round last June, is among the top three finalists for the Mike Richter Award, recognizing the premier goaltender in U.S. college hockey. This accolade was previously claimed by Primeau in 2019 while he was playing for Northeastern University in Boston.