The Carolina Hurricanes have put goaltender Cayden Primeau on waivers with the intention of assigning him to their AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves.
It’s a move that opens up a spot on Carolina’s 23-man roster if Primeau is claimed, or if he clears and heads to Chicago. For now, the Hurricanes don’t seem to have an urgent need for that opening, so they’re likely content to leave it unused while this plays out. The timing suggests the team is focused less on a follow-up transaction and more on Primeau’s waiver outlook.
That part matters. By waiting until now, rather than dropping him onto waivers when teams were scrambling to finalize season-opening rosters, Carolina appears to be trying to lower the odds that someone grabs him. Primeau has already been a target before; he was claimed off waivers last year by the Toronto Maple Leafs and then by the Hurricanes.
He’s built a reputation as a dependable No. 3 goalie, the kind of netminder who can step into NHL games and hold up when needed. That was on display in 2023-24, when he posted a .910 save percentage in 23 games for the Montreal Canadiens.
Goalies tend to drive more waiver drama than skaters, and this preseason was no exception. Teams usually prefer to carry just two goaltenders, which leaves capable options exposed when roster cuts hit. Carolina saw that firsthand last season when it claimed Brandon Bussi, who went 31-6-2 in his debut season in Raleigh and has since become the club’s No. 1 goalie.
This preseason also brought a clear wave of goalie activity. The Vancouver Canucks claimed Leevi Merilainen, the New Jersey Devils claimed Remi Poirier, and the Winnipeg Jets - widely expected to take a goalie - ended up with Clay Stevenson from the Washington Capitals.
If Carolina had put Primeau on waivers earlier in the week, one of those clubs might have gone after him instead of the goaltender it ultimately chose. But with those decisions already made, the Hurricanes no longer have to worry about those three teams swooping in. Technically they still could claim him, but they’ve already used their early-season waiver picks.
That leaves Carolina in a better spot than it would have been a few days ago. Even if another goalie-needy team is still out there, the pool of obvious claim candidates has thinned, and that should improve the Hurricanes’ chances of keeping Primeau in the organization.
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All of that matters because Carolina is also looking at Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, and the path to getting him is not a simple one. His situation in Winnipeg has created real trade friction, enough that the Hurricanes may need an expanded deal structure to make the move work, which leaves their next step tied to how the Nikishin talks finally shake out. [Read more 🡒]
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Hurricanes Just Clarified One Roster Question And A Fan Frustration
Cayden Primeaus path through the Hurricanes goaltending picture got a little clearer after the team assigned him to its AHL affiliate in Chicago following a waiver clearance. For Carolina, its a straightforward roster move on the surface, but one that matters for a group that has spent the early part of the season sorting out depth in net and making sure every available option is accounted for.
The bigger off-ice win for fans came in the form of a wider reach for the teams broadcasts, as Carolina announced an expanded agreement with Cox Media Group and Gray Media for a 10-game Saturday Night Hockey package. Those games will air on free over-the-air channels in multiple markets across North and South Carolina, while the Hurricanes will still keep their Hockey Network and streaming options in place for viewers who prefer to watch that way. [Read more 🡒]