There might have been more Montreal smoked meat to feast on for the Canadiens’ media on Monday than for local scribes hoping to see Sammy Blais or Cayden Primeau in game action for the Maple Leafs.
The new Leafs/former Habs slot in for two high-profile training camp cuts — Blais for Easton Cowan, Primeau for Dennis Hildeby and, by extension, James Reimer — though neither likely will be in Wednesday’s season opener against the Habs at Scotiabank Arena.
Practice was a gold mine of quotes if you were French-Canadian, with the chatty Blais having switched camps, joining a Quebecois Leafs niche with Nicolas Roy, Simon Benoit and Philippe Myers.
Primeau was with Montreal for all of his 55 career NHL games before also being plucked on waivers from Carolina.
They’ll contribute in Toronto, eventually, but what led to the sudden change of scenery?
How did plans change?
The best-laid plans of Leafs camp started unravelling when Joseph Woll needed time at home for a personal matter, now a two-week hiatus with no firm return in sight.
General manager Brad Treliving says there’s progress with the young goalie, but the Leafs were running out of time to find an experienced backup for insurance behind Hildeby, at least one who wouldn’t take up valuable cap space on the 23-man roster.
In the end, Hildeby’s scant NHL experience worked in the club’s favour to demote him, at least for now.
Scott Laughton’s shot-block foot injury meant related pain for Cowan, who was set to make his NHL debut on his right wing but homeless after the line was broken up with no alternative position.
“We have a plan for him,” coach Craig Berube assured. “That’s all I’m going to say. (Opportunity) can present itself.”
As if to reinforce that, Cowan and forward Jacob Quillan — who did make the 23-man roster — were working out on the Ford Centre pad beside the Leafs, not with the AHL Marlies.
Did contract and cap considerations come into play?
The new guys also come cheap.
Blais and Primeau are at the $775,000 US minimum, leaving $19,721 in cap space after all of Monday’s roster machinations. That was preceded by centre David Kampfs’s $2.4 million getting buried through him clearing waivers.
Cowan’s ELC deal doesn’t apply while he’s on the farm, nor the NHL salary of Hildeby’s two-way deal. Laughton ($1.5 million) opens the year on LTIR.
What do the new players bring to the table?
Berube went to bat for Blais when he saw his name exposed, believing his 29-year-old former Cup winner with the Blues six years ago still has lots to offer the Leafs.
“A heavy, heavy hitter, strong on the forecheck, he has no fear,” Berube recited. “That’s what he did for us in St. Louis. And he has good puck skills.
“I had him in the minors and he scored 30 goals (bookended with 19 points to help Abbottsford Canucks win the Calder Cup last year). I like the player and the person.”
But does the NHL fire still burn in Blais after a year out of The Show?
“I’m just excited to show I can still play. I proved last year I still have some gas in the tank.”
Treliving felt bad that Reimer had to rush through a Professional Tryout Contract owing to Woll’s situation and saw Primeau’s availability as a better course, with Hildeby on deck.
“We liked someone who’d been through a (full) camp,” the GM said. “It gives us more depth at the position with a goalie we like.”
Primeau impressed teammates right away by just getting to Toronto in time for Monday’s practice. His Monday flight out of Raleigh was delayed, requiring a sprint through Newark airport for his connection.
His first practice was facing Auston Matthews and an NHL top-10 power play, while 22 new teammates and a dozen cameras were trained on him and his newly designed Toronto mask that the equipment crew created.
Primeau, like Hildeby is learning now, has to shake his reputation as a great minor-league goalie unable to hold a steady NHL job. American-born to former NHLer Keith Primeau and nephew of ex-Leaf Wayne, Cayden now has that Toronto-based family close by to help his confidence.
”I had a great off-season, I feel stronger and that will definitely translate on the ice,” Primeau promised.
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