Exclusive: Hurricanes’ Cayden Primeau on Return & Mindset for 2026-27

The 2025-26 season was a wild one for Cayden Primeau. After finishing training camp last year with the Carolina Hurricanes, the Toronto Maple Leafs claimed him off waivers. Then a few weeks later, the Hurricanes re-claimed him, and he finished the season with the Chicago Wolves, helping lead them to the Calder Cup Final. Now heading into the 2026-27 season, what is next for the Michigan native?

Whirlwind 2025-26 Season Between Carolina & Toronto

It’s not common for a player to get claimed off waivers twice, and one is the original team they were signed to. That was the case, however, for Primeau after playing three games with the Maple Leafs before returning to the Hurricanes organization. He then went on to have a 21-11-7 record, a 2.41 goals-against average (GAA), a .916 save percentage (SV%), and four shutouts in 39 games.

For Primeau, last season was about taking it day by day and not focusing on how his season started with two different organizations in a matter of weeks. It was about taking it day by day. This ultimately led him to him making the Calder Cup Final.

When asked about staying in that mindset, Primeau stated, “That was exactly it, just trying to take it day by day. The beginning of the year was a little bit of a whirlwind, you know, because I had come here [Raleigh] and it was all fresh. It was my first time here as well, so meeting new people, being in a new environment, and then going to Toronto, same thing. Same thing in Chicago, but at least I had some familiarity with the players and the staff, so that made the transition there really easy.”

“And then, obviously, yeah, being able to go deep was special. And I think we have, you know, a lot of great guys coming back, and hopefully, the good additions that can get us over the hump, and we’ll come out on top this year,” he concluded.

Returning After Signing Two-Year Extension

After the 2025-26 season, Primeau became a restricted free agent (RFA), and there were hopes he would return for the upcoming season. He was given a qualifying offer earlier in the summer, and eventually, on Sept. 9, a deal was made. Primeau signed a two-year, $1.83 million extension to keep him with the organization through the 2027-28 season.

It was a good move for the Hurricanes to bring him back, especially being considered the third goalie on the depth chart behind Brandon Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov. Earlier in June, Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky said of Primeau, “He’s a very good goalie who’s also capable of playing NHL games if we need him to.”

When asked why it was an easy decision to return to the organization for two more seasons, “I mean… it’s not often that the NHL club wins the Stanley Cup, and then the AHL affiliate makes it to the [Calder Cup] finals. So it just shows the depth in the organization, and I mean, ever since I got here last year, I wanted to be here. It’s a great environment, great culture. Guys are great, and everyone’s pushing to be the best version of themselves, whether that’s here or in Chicago. You know, it all rang true.”

It might be cliché when talking about “culture” in sports, but with the Hurricanes, there is no place where it’s truer than that. Especially when it’s led by head coach Rod Brind’Amour, and it trickles down through the system, even with the Wolves’ head coach Spiros Anastas, who knows how to get the best out of his players and connect with them.

Changing the Mindset From Last Season to 2026-27

Just like the conversation with Bradly Nadeau after day two of camp, every player has to focus on what’s going on now and control what they can control. Last season was last season, and now it’s time to focus on 2026-27. While it’s awesome that the Wolves won the Western Conference last season, it’s now about getting back and winning the whole thing.

Primeau stated when asked about changing the mindset for the upcoming season, “Every year is a new year. It doesn’t matter where you were, if you were at the top or at the bottom; you know the end goal is to be the last team standing. So that’s the goal every year.

And like I said, both teams, obviously the NHL, everyone’s back for the most part. And then same thing in Chicago, you know, the depth that I mentioned and the prospects. Everyone that had come back has come back. Yeah, it’s exciting, but as you said, you just gotta put it behind you. It’s a new year.”

It’s the mentality to not rest on one’s laurels, which makes the Hurricanes and the Wolves interesting teams to watch every season. They never settle and take a step back. It’s always about being better every single season, every single day.

Possible Three-Headed Monster Goalie Room With the Wolves

In a follow-up question about being excited, the goalie room with the Wolves will be one to watch this upcoming season. Primeau will be with his tandem partner from last season, Ruslan Khazheyev, along with veteran netminder Zach Sawchnko. Sawchenko played with the Wolves during the 2022-23 season. The Wolves could have a three-headed monster in the crease this season.

When asked about the addition of Sawchenko and how this could be an exciting trio of goalies this season, Primeau stated, “Yeah, it’s huge. I’ve been fortunate to have some great goalie partners throughout my career, so adding to the arsenal of some great goalies. But yeah, to have Sawzy come back, he’s familiar with the organization, familiar with Chicago, so that’s huge, that experience. But we’re all pushing each other. We all want the job at the end of the day. So it’s a good, friendly competition.”

It’ll be an exciting season for Primeau and the Wolves as they look to defend their Western Conference crown, but also want to lift the Calder Cup at season’s end. Depending on health with the Hurricanes this season, could Primeau see time in Raleigh as well? Only time will tell, but he is more than capable of taking that task when and if called upon. All that matters for Primeau is taking it day by day and controlling what he can control.