Did Cayden Primeau Show Enough In His Maple Leafs Debut To Instil Confidence As An NHL Backup?
Cayden Primeau could feel the nerves building as he walked out of the tunnel inside Scotiabank Arena for his first start with the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Nashville Predators.
After being claimed off waivers by Toronto eight days ago, the 26-year-old wondered when he'd get a start in a game wearing the blue and white. Although it was never stated, Tuesday always felt like the right opportunity to give Primeau his Maple Leafs debut.
And it was special for a multitude of reasons.
His father, Keith (a former NHLer himself), grew up in Whitby, Ontario, and cheered for the Maple Leafs as a child. Primeau also has plenty of family still in the Greater Toronto Area. So when he skated onto the ice, Primeau wasn't just battling the nerves of his Maple Leafs debut. He wanted to give his family and friends a good showing.
"I was nervous," Primeau said. "Not being able to play a preseason game and not being able to play a game with the group, so a little bit nervous trying to figure out how things were going to go."
It was a strong start for Primeau. He made eight shots in the first period, not allowing a goal until the three-minute mark of the second period. Primeau allowed another goal in the frame, and two more in the third period, but Toronto filled Nashville's net with seven goals, helping get the netminder his first win with the Maple Leafs.
He stopped 26 of 30 shots in the game, securing the win not only for his Maple Leafs teammates but also his father.
"Yeah, it meant a lot. He grew up in Toronto," Primeau said. "I'm excited to call him right after."
Given that most of Keith's family resides in or around the Toronto area, how many were at the game on Tuesday night?
"Not as many as I thought, it was my sister's birthday," he smiled. "Yeah, she takes precedent."
There was a lot to like about Primeau's game. There were also a few goals he'd like to have back. It's not the easiest thing to come into a new team and then start with the club several days later, but for the most part, Primeau did what he had to do.
"Got his first win here, congrats to him," Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said post-game. "He did what he had to do to get the job done."
Despite allowing four goals in the final two periods, Toronto shouldn't shy away from giving him the net again. As mentioned, it's a difficult task to come into game action when you've only had a couple of practices with the team in front of you.
The positive from Primeau, aside from the win, is that he understands more work needs to be done.
"I don't look at results. It feels good to get the win, but it wasn't pretty at times. So, a lot of good things that I did, but a lot of things I can work on."
"Jonathan Taylor Dominates 2025 NFL Season: ‘Best Football of His Career’ as He Leads League in Rushing!"
In a season where every game feels like a statement, Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts has emerged as the undeniable standout of the NFL in 2025. Already considered one of the best skill players in Colts' history, Taylor has somehow managed to elevate his game even further, and the results are staggering.
Through just six games, Taylor is leading the league in rushing with an eye-popping 603 yards. But what sets him apart this season isn’t just the rushing yards—it's the way he's taken his game to new heights, particularly in areas where he’s been criticized in the past.
With 422 yards gained after contact, Taylor sits at the top of the league in this crucial statistic, showing that not only can he gain yards, but he can do it even when defenders are bearing down on him. He also ranks third in forced missed tackles (24) and fifth in yards per carry (5.2). But what’s even more remarkable than his numbers is his improvement.
Unlike previous years, Taylor has noticeably reduced negative plays, with only 6.09% of his carries resulting in a tackle for a loss. His explosive play rate is also at a career-high 9.57%, showing just how often he’s breaking free for huge gains. But it’s not just the running game where Taylor is excelling—he’s become a complete player this season, with major strides made in the passing game.
The same player who was once limited in pass protection has now cracked the top five in Pro Football Focus’ pass-blocking grade, an area where he was previously never considered among the league’s best. Taylor is also on pace to smash his personal bests in receptions and receiving yards, currently sitting at 20 receptions for 147 yards.
Taylor recently reflected on the improvements he’s made to his game, especially his newfound patience:
"Definitely just being a little bit more patient," Taylor explained. "I know there have been times where you kind of want to make a play, so you may go outside the parameters of the scheme, but just understanding you have to stay patient. And sometimes you’ve got to run through the smoke."
His newfound maturity and patience have unlocked new dimensions to his play. He added, "It may not look like something’s there, but you just trust the scheme, trust the guys up front – next thing you know, you're popping out on the back side." This mental shift is the key to his game-breaking performances, whether he's running between the tackles or protecting the pocket in pass-blocking.
Taylor’s elite performance was on full display in the Colts' dominant win over the Cardinals, a game where he proved once again that he’s not just the best rusher—he’s the best all-around running back in the league right now.
With his current trajectory, Taylor isn’t just a contender for the NFL’s best rusher title—he’s on pace to redefine what it means to be a complete running back. Fans and analysts alike are wondering: can Jonathan Taylor sustain this level of play throughout the season, and will he carry the Colts deep into the playoffs?
#JonathanTaylor #BestRunningBack #NFL2025
