PRIME PRIMEAU

February 25, 2026

Welcome to Wolves Insider, presented by Are You Really Winning?: The weekly report that gives you an inside look at the latest Chicago Wolves news and happenings. Look for a new edition of Wolves Insider each week.

WOLVES GOALIE ON A ROLL

After a whirlwind start to his Wolves career, goaltender Cayden Primeau has settled in as one of the American Hockey League’s top goaltenders.

How settled in?

Primeau has reeled off 10 consecutive victories—including his second shutout of the season last Thursday against the Iowa Wild at Allstate Arena—and is rising in the league’s statistical ranks, all while helping the Wolves solidify a postseason berth.

“When I first got here, I felt good but I really feel like I’ve taken that next step ever since the Christmas break,” Primeau said. “I’m just trying to build off it and gain that chemistry with the team every day.”

In Primeau’s 23 starts with the Wolves, the team has recorded at least one point in 19 of them and the 26-year-old currently ranks fifth in the league with a .916 save percentage and eighth with a 2.44 goals-against average.

What exactly is going right for Primeau, who was acquired by the Hurricanes via a trade with the Canadiens on June 30, claimed off waivers by the Maple Leafs before again being placed on waivers and then reclaimed by the Canes on Nov. 8?

“I don’t know if I can pinpoint it to one specific thing,” Primeau said. “But I just feel like I’m reading it better and seeing the puck more.”

The 10 wins in a row by a Wolves netminder is tied for third-most in team history with Peter Mannino (Jan. 13-Feb. 19, 2010) and is within three of Kari Lehtonen’s run of 13 from Feb. 19-March 26, 2005. The all-time leader for most consecutive wins by a Wolves goalie is current Vice Chairman/Governor Wendell Young, who had a streak of 16 from Nov. 15, 1997 to Jan. 7, 1998.

Primeau credits sharing goaltending duties with Amir Miftakhov as another reason for his success.

“Amir is playing exceptional right now,” Primeau said. “When you have someone like that pushing you every day it’s a friendly competition. We want to see each other succeed but at the same time, we want to be the one in the net.”

With 24 regular-season games remaining, Primeau is focused on keeping the Wolves locked into second place in the Central Division and preparing for a deep run in the playoffs.

“There’s a lot of hockey left so it’s being ready for when your name is called,” Primeau said before adding, “I love it around here.”

SMITH MAKES IMMEDIATE IMPACT

It didn’t take long for Givani Smith to make his presence felt after missing 35 games with a torn hip flexor suffered in a game against the Wild on Nov. 18.

The veteran forward got into a fight in his first shift back during last Thursday’s game against Iowa, holding his own against Wild enforcer Mark Liwiski, who leads the AHL in penalty minutes.

In his postgame speech in the dressing room following the Wolves’ 2-0 victory, interim head coach Spiros Anastas singled out Smith for infusing energy into the team with the scuffle.

“I’m just going to try and bring that physicality night in and night out and be a physical presence,” Smith said. “Hopefully, I’ll score some goals, too.”

A veteran of 168 career NHL games with the Red Wings, Panthers, Sharks and Avalanche, Smith was invited to Hurricanes training camp on a Professional Tryout Contract (PTO). The 27-year-old’s strong preseason led to signing a one-year, two-way contract before being assigned to the Wolves.

After appearing in six games during which the Toronto native recorded a goal and an assist, Smith went down with the injury.

Smith, who said the extended rehab time was “very hard mentally,” is determined to make the most of the Wolves’ remaining games.

“With my injury, it could sometimes be all season but I’m lucky there’s time for me to play,” Smith said. “I’m grateful for that.”

IMPACT NETWORKING PLAY OF THE WEEK

During Saturday night’s game against Texas at Allstate Arena, the Wolves erased a 2-0 deficit on forward Noel Gunler’s ninth tally of the season. The first-period goal, which came with :00.2 remaining on the clock, came when Skyler Brind’Amour found an open Gunler and the forward didn’t miss, ripping a shot from just inside the left circle that beat lunging Stars netminder Remi Poirier to the glove side.

C.D.E. COLLISION CENTERS’ COLLISIONS OF THE WEEK

Wolves forward Yanick Turcotte finished his check on the Iowa Wild’s David Jiricek during Thursday morning’s School-Day game at Allstate Arena.

 

SAVE OF THE WEEK

During Saturday’s game at Allstate Arena against the Texas Stars, Wolves goaltender Cayden Primeau denied Stars forward Ayrton Martino’s breakaway bid with a sprawling glove save.

 

HELPING THE COMMUNITY

Wolves players will wear exclusive St. Patrick’s Day jerseys, presented by Jewel-Osco, when they host the Texas Stars on Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8, respectively.

These jerseys will be available to own through a variety of auctions and raffles, with proceeds benefitting Easterseals and Chicago Wolves Charities, driven by Kia.

The Wolves are working with Easterseals to promote autism awareness. Easterseals is committed to the comprehensive health and wellness of Americans living with disabilities with outcomes-based services for all disabilities.

Wolves players Yanick Turcotte, Josiah Slavin, Cayden Primeau, Amir Miftakhov, Juha Jaaska, Bradly Nadeau and mascot Skates, will wear different jerseys for the two games. Wearing multiple jerseys enables the Wolves and their fans to maximize their support of Easterseals and their invaluable work.

These commemorative jerseys will be available for auction and raffle in the following ways:

Golden Ticket Raffle

One of forward Ryan Suzuki’s St. Patrick’s Day jerseys is available via the Golden Ticket Raffle. There are 50 raffle tickets available for $50 per ticket, meaning each ticket has a 1-in-50 chance of being selected. The Golden Ticket Raffle can be entered online here.

Blind Auction

Jerseys for Yanick Turcotte, Josiah Slavin, Cayden Primeau, Amir Miftakhov, Juha Jaaska, Bradly Nadeau, as well as mascot Skates and a Team Signed jersey, are available via blind auction. The process is simple: Bid the highest amount you are willing to pay for a specific jersey and the highest bid submitted for each jersey by 12 p.m. on Monday, March 9, will be the winner. The minimum bid is $275, and no one will know what others are bidding. Bid here.

Silent Auction

The remaining St. Patrick’s Day jerseys, including those for Wendell Young, Wayne Messmer and Billy Gardner, will be available in a silent auction. The silent auction can be entered online and at Allstate Arena. The online portion of the silent auction closes Sunday, March 8 at 12 p.m. In-arena bidding begins on Saturday, March 7 at 6 p.m., and concludes at the end of the second intermission on Sunday, March 8, at the Chicago Wolves Charities Table behind Section 105. Silent Auction bids here.

Weekly rewind (2-0-1-0)

THURSDAY, FEB. 19

Wolves 2, Wild 0: Cayden Primeau’s second shutout of the season, Viktor Neuchev’s first goal with the Wolvesand Aleksi Heimosalmi’s insurance marker propelled the Wolves to their third win in a row–all at home.

FRIDAY, FEB. 20

Griffins 2, Wolves 1 (OT): Ronan Seeley scored in the third period but the Wolves couldn’t pick up a second point when Amadeus Lombardi found the back of the net in overtime for the Griffins. Chicago saw its three-game winning streak snapped while Grand Rapids won its fifth in a row.

SATURDAY, FEB. 21

Wolves 5, Stars 4: Noah Philp notched the decider in the third period, Justin Robidas had a goal and an assist and Noel Gunler, Bradly Nadeau and Ronan Seeley also scored to extend the Wolves’ points streak to five contests. Felix Unger Sorum chipped in three assists to help Chicago, which captured five of a possible six points in a stretch of three games in three days, snap Texas’ two-game winning streak.

First Star of the Week

Where we stand

26-11-6-5, second in the Central Division.

For information on Wolves ticket plans for the 2025-26 season—everything from single-game tickets to Flex Packs to group outings—visit ChicagoWolves.com or call 1-800-THE-WOLVES.