Cayden
Primeau
G · CAR · Very poor
- PAL
- 2
- WAR
- -1.8
- Value
- 5
- SV%
- .836
2024-25№ 91 / 99
Cayden Primeau (Carolina Hurricanes) stats and profile: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats, WAR and PAL rating.
Cayden Primeau
HEIGHT : 191 cm · WEIGHT : 93 kg · CATCHES : L
Born : August 10, 1999 · Farmington Hills, United States
Drafted : 2017 · MTL · round 7, pick #199
Contract : $912,500 · 2026-27 → 2027-28 · Standard Contract · UFA
NHL record
| Year | Team | GP | W | L | GAA | SV% | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4.30 | .838 | 0 |
| 2024-25 | Montréal Canadiens | 11 | 2 | 3 | 4.70 | .836 | 0 |
| 2023-24 | Montréal Canadiens | 23 | 8 | 9 | 2.99 | .910 | 2 |
| 2022-23 | Montréal Canadiens | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3.46 | .852 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | Montréal Canadiens | 12 | 1 | 7 | 4.62 | .868 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | Montréal Canadiens | 4 | 1 | 2 | 4.16 | .849 | 0 |
| 2019-20 | Montréal Canadiens | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2.52 | .931 | 0 |
| NHL totals | 58 | 15 | 25 | 3.73 | .882 | 2 | |
Cayden Primeau: our analysis
2024-25 season: 11 GP, 2 W, 3 L, .836 SV%, 4.70 GAA, 0 SO. WAR -1.8 (91st of 99) · PAL 2, very poor.
In 2024-25, Cayden Primeau, 27, posts a PAL Rating of 2 out of 100 (very poor), and his WAR of -1.8 ranks 91st among 99 regulars, in the bottom quarter.
His strengths: high danger (78, well above average). On the other hand, workload (0, among the weakest in the league) and consistency (0, among the weakest in the league) hold him back.
GSAx: -10.8 (goals saved above expected).
A marked decline: his PAL was 62 in 2023-24, against 2 now; his WAR went from 1.8 to -1.8.
Contract-wise, his Value score of 5 (very poor return) weighs his output against what he costs: 50 is what that salary should buy.
Cayden Primeau's story
Growing up in a hockey family after his birth in Farmington Hills on August 11, 1999, Cayden Primeau moved as an infant to Voorhees, New Jersey and developed his game in American junior ranks before moving on to college hockey. Early achievements in the EHL and a season with the Lincoln Stars set the stage for his breakthrough at the collegiate level.
Primeau arrived at Northeastern and quickly established himself as the Huskies' goaltender. As a freshman he helped lift the team up the Hockey East standings; in his sophomore year he posted a program-high number of wins and collected conference and national goaltending awards that marked him as one of the top netminders in NCAA Division I.
Selected 199th overall in the seventh round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens, he signed an entry-level contract on March 31, 2019 and was assigned to Laval. Montreal called him up in December 2019 and he made his NHL debut that month, earning his first win days later. Over subsequent seasons he split time between the AHL and NHL, producing notable performances in both leagues. In 2023–24 he recorded a shutout at the Bell Centre that tied a longstanding franchise rookie saves record and finished the season as Montreal’s backup during a stretch of roster moves.
Internationally, Primeau represented the United States across several junior tournaments, contributing to medals at events such as the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup, the World Junior A Challenge and the World Junior Championship in 2019. As a goaltender he is characterised by his positional awareness and composure under pressure, qualities that have allowed him to move between the AHL and NHL and to continue developing within pro organizations. Under contract with the Carolina Hurricanes organization, he has played for the Chicago Wolves in the AHL and has also appeared for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the NHL.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- Starts
- 3
- Shots against
- 80
- Saves
- 67
- %ARR / SV%
- 83.8 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
Trend
Trend
Slight decline
- PAL Rating: 62 → 2
Outlook, age included
↘ Slight declineAge 27: prime years
The trend is a hint, not a verdict. It reads recent seasons and PAL Rating (age only shapes the outlook); it knows nothing about future injuries, trades, or the defense in front of the goalie.
WAR and PAL ratings, 2024-25
How we rate →PAL Rating scores performance from 0 to 100 against players at the same position (50 = average player), starting from the player's strength, offensive or defensive. Value Rating compares that performance with what the player costs: 50 means paid what the play is worth.
PAL Rating
2/ 100
Performance · Very poor
70 of 74 at the position
Value Rating
5/ 100
Very poor return
0.89 M$ · expected PAL 44
See full detailsHide details
- Efficiency
- 0
- Impact
- 22
- High danger
- 78
- Consistency
- 0
- Workload
- 0
From 0 to 100; 50 is the average player at the same position, adjusted for ice time.
| Season | Team | WAR | PAL | Value | Cap hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | MTL | -1.8 | 2 | 5 | 0.89 M$ |
| 2023-24 | MTL | 1.8 | 62 | 74 | 0.89 M$ |
WAR, 2025-26
How it's calculated →Wins added to the team, compared with a replacement-level player called up from the AHL.
-1.1
wins above replacement
-2.6 to -0.2 — 90% interval
86 of 98 goalies
-5.6 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- Goals saved above expected
- -6.1
- Average → replacement
- +0.5
In goals.
| Season | Team | GP | WAR | 90% interval | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | TOR | 3 | -1.1 | -2.6 to -0.2 | 86/98 |
| 2024-25 | MTL | 11 | -1.8 | -3.5 to -0.1 | 91/99 |
| 2023-24 | MTL | 24 | 1.8 | -1.1 to 4.6 | 30/98 |
| 2022-23 | MTL | 3 | -0.2 | -0.8 to 0.4 | 71/107 |
Player tracking (NHL EDGE)
League EDGE leaderboards →NHL EDGE tracks every shot with a chip in the puck: where it came from, how dangerous it was, and what the goalie did with it. The percentile places the goalie within the league.
- Save %
- .8380th percentileleague avg. .896
- High-danger save %
- .7220th percentileleague avg. .811
- Games above .900
- 0.0 %0th percentileleague avg. 49.0 %
See full detailsHide details
- Goal support per game
- 4.63100th percentileleague avg. 2.99
- Goal differential per 60
- 0.3366th percentileleague avg. 0.11
Save % by zone
2025-2026 regular season. Measured by puck and player tracking chips; the percentile ranks the player within the league.
Game log, 2025-26
CBJ
BUF
NSHCayden Primeau: frequently asked questions
What is Cayden Primeau's record in 2025-26?
Cayden Primeau has 2 wins in 3 games in 2025-26, with a .838 save percentage and a 4.30 goals-against average.
How old is Cayden Primeau?
Cayden Primeau is 27 years old: he was born on August 11, 1999.
How tall is Cayden Primeau, and how much does he weigh?
Cayden Primeau is 6'3" (191 cm) and weighs 205 lb (93 kg).
Where is Cayden Primeau from?
United States: Cayden Primeau was born in Farmington Hills, Michigan, United States.
What team does Cayden Primeau play for?
Cayden Primeau plays for the Carolina Hurricanes in the NHL, at G, wearing number 55.
Is Cayden Primeau injured?
No: Cayden Primeau is not on the latest NHL injury report. This answer is updated throughout the season.
How good is Cayden Primeau?
Cayden Primeau produced -1.1 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025-26, 86th of 98 players at his position in the NHL.
How much does Cayden Primeau make?
Cayden Primeau carries a cap hit of $913K per season, on a contract worth $1.8M in total over 2 years.
When does Cayden Primeau's contract end?
Cayden Primeau's contract runs through the 2027-28 season; he will then be an unrestricted free agent.
Is Cayden Primeau a top-10 player at his position?
No: by WAR, he ranks 86th of 98 players at his position in the NHL in 2025-26. Our comparison tool puts him side by side with any other player.
Is Cayden Primeau getting better?
No, he is slipping: his PAL rating went from 62 in 2023-24 to 2 in 2024-25 (out of 100, 50 = average player at his position).
What are Cayden Primeau's career stats?
Over his NHL career, Cayden Primeau has 58 games, 15 wins and 2 shutouts. His best season: 2023-24, with 8 wins.
Where was Cayden Primeau drafted?
Cayden Primeau was drafted 199th overall (round 7) by Montreal Canadiens in 2017.
How does Cayden Primeau perform in the playoffs?
Cayden Primeau has not played in the NHL playoffs yet.
Does Cayden Primeau have siblings?
Yes: his brother Chayse Primeau (played collegiately for the Omaha Mavericks), his brother Corey Primeau (played collegiately for the Neumann Knights), his sister Kylie Primeau (played lacrosse at Villanova University).
Is Cayden Primeau related to anyone famous?
Yes: Keith Primeau (father, former NHL centreman).
What is Cayden Primeau's nationality?
Cayden Primeau is American. Internationally: United States — winner of the 2015 Five Nations Cup (championship win over Germany); silver medal at the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup; gold medal at the World Junior A Challenge (year not specified) and named to the tournament All-Star Team; gold medal with the U.S. at the World U18 Championships (did not play); silver medal at the 2019 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships; named to the U.S. men's national team for the 2019 IIHF World Championship (did not appear).
What awards has Cayden Primeau won?
EHL Goaltender of the Year (2015–16 season) ; EHL Rookie of the Year (2015–16 season) ; Named to the All-Hockey East Rookie Team (collegiate season, year not specified) ; Named to the All-Hockey East First Team (collegiate season, year not specified) ; Hockey East conference goaltending title (collegiate season, year not specified) ; Tournament MVP for Northeastern's Hockey East title (year not specified) ; AHCA East First Team All‑American (year not specified) ; Mike Richter Award (top NCAA Division I men's goaltender, year not specified); and more.
How many championships has Cayden Primeau won?
3: Five Nations Cup winner with Team USA (2015, championship win over Germany); Hockey East title with Northeastern (program's third such distinction, year not specified); Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy awarded to the Laval Rocket as AHL regular season champions (season described, year not specified).
Where did Cayden Primeau play before turning pro?
Philadelphia Revolution (Eastern Hockey League, 2015–16 season); Lincoln Stars (USHL, one season); Northeastern Huskies (NCAA, brief collegiate career — two seasons).
See also: his Carolina Hurricanes teammates
Full roster →
NHL.com ↗ · Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)