How The Price Is Right
It's no secret that I have been a Carey Price supporter ever since he first stood between the pipes for the hallowed Montreal Canadiens in 2007. His play seemed to convince me from the start that he was the goalie of the future for the Habs. It was, and still is his calm and collected demeanor that was most surprising, and is arguably his best quality as a goaltender. Despite his composed and steady approach to his position, Price's road to this point in the NHL has been anything but. It has only been in the last two to three seasons when Carey Price has established himself as the Canadiens #1 goalie and a force to be reckoned with.
Carey came flying out of the gate during the 07-08 season, going 24-12-3 in 41 games with a 2.56 GAA and a .920 SVP. I can remember Cristobal Huet looking over his shoulder at this upstart rookie who was turning heads throughout the hockey world. Let's remember that Price was a highly touted prospect, one who won a World Junior Championship and made people take notice. The 08-09 season was also strong for Price, who posted a 23-16-10 record in 52 games with a 2.83 GAA and a .905 SVP. Price led the Habs into the playoffs and knocked off the #1 seeded Bruins in 7 games before falling to the Flyers in the 2nd round. He was being heralded the next Patrick Roy and he had only played one season!
But then there was one slight problem, Price was playing goalie in the most demanding hockey market in the world! Montreal fans can be absolutely ruthless with players. When you're playing well, they will love you more than any other, but if you have a few bad games here and there, you could be in for a ride that you won't enjoy. I know that Leafs nation will disagree with me, but my point still stands that Montreal is the most intimidating city to play hockey, let alone goalie.
The honeymoon was over, and during the 09-10 season Carey Price felt the brunt of the Montreal media and fan base. Price played in only 41 games as he was sharing the crease with another young goalie, Jaroslav Halak. Halak posted a strong season going 26-13-5 in 45 games with a 2.40 GAA and a .924 SVP, while Price struggled going 13-20-5 with a 2.77 GAA and a .912 SVP. Price's numbers were not dreadful but he wasn't winning while Halak was. In the playoffs, the Habs went with Price but Montreal got swept by the same Bruins who they defeated the year before. Price was now on the hot-seat and the goaltending controversy was beginning.
Price played the majority of the 10-11 season, posting solid numbers (38-28-6 in 72 games with a 2.35 GAA and a .923 SVP). However, it was Jaroslav Halak who would steal the show during Montreal's exciting run to the eastern conference finals! Montreal knocked off top seeded Washington in 7 games, and then proceeded to beat the heavily favoured Penguins in 7 games in round 2. Montreal's shot blocking ability paired with Halak's brilliance between the pipes accounted for the upsets.
But it was Halak who people were cheering for and some feeling the need to rewrite a Lady Gaga song to celebrate his playoff run (re: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vscWM7qiYg). Given that Price played 72 games that season, Halak was well rested for the playoffs and delivered a stellar goaltending display!
The following season, the Montreal Canadiens' management had to make a difficult decision, to go with Carey Price or Jaroslav Halak. They chose the former and in my opinion in doing so, made the correct longterm decision. Halak has done well in St. Louis the last couple seasons, but back in Montreal, Price has established himself as a top goalie in the league.
Some may have believed that Montreal should have gone with Halak, but Carey's numbers have been very strong! In terms of a longterm goalie of the future, Carey Price is the man for the job. Despite all the pressure, Price has figured out how to overcome it and post Goal Against Averages of 2.35 and 2.43 in these last two years. Bearing in mind that the Habs aren't the most staunch defensive team in front of him, as well as a team that struggles mightily to put the puck in the net, Carey Price has developed into a consistent #1 goalie who is now making people consider him as the goalie for team Canada in the 2014 Olympics. It has been a journey to this point with bumps along the way, but it is that same composed and collected demeanor that has helped Price right the ship in Montreal.
Carey came flying out of the gate during the 07-08 season, going 24-12-3 in 41 games with a 2.56 GAA and a .920 SVP. I can remember Cristobal Huet looking over his shoulder at this upstart rookie who was turning heads throughout the hockey world. Let's remember that Price was a highly touted prospect, one who won a World Junior Championship and made people take notice. The 08-09 season was also strong for Price, who posted a 23-16-10 record in 52 games with a 2.83 GAA and a .905 SVP. Price led the Habs into the playoffs and knocked off the #1 seeded Bruins in 7 games before falling to the Flyers in the 2nd round. He was being heralded the next Patrick Roy and he had only played one season!
But then there was one slight problem, Price was playing goalie in the most demanding hockey market in the world! Montreal fans can be absolutely ruthless with players. When you're playing well, they will love you more than any other, but if you have a few bad games here and there, you could be in for a ride that you won't enjoy. I know that Leafs nation will disagree with me, but my point still stands that Montreal is the most intimidating city to play hockey, let alone goalie.
The honeymoon was over, and during the 09-10 season Carey Price felt the brunt of the Montreal media and fan base. Price played in only 41 games as he was sharing the crease with another young goalie, Jaroslav Halak. Halak posted a strong season going 26-13-5 in 45 games with a 2.40 GAA and a .924 SVP, while Price struggled going 13-20-5 with a 2.77 GAA and a .912 SVP. Price's numbers were not dreadful but he wasn't winning while Halak was. In the playoffs, the Habs went with Price but Montreal got swept by the same Bruins who they defeated the year before. Price was now on the hot-seat and the goaltending controversy was beginning.
Price played the majority of the 10-11 season, posting solid numbers (38-28-6 in 72 games with a 2.35 GAA and a .923 SVP). However, it was Jaroslav Halak who would steal the show during Montreal's exciting run to the eastern conference finals! Montreal knocked off top seeded Washington in 7 games, and then proceeded to beat the heavily favoured Penguins in 7 games in round 2. Montreal's shot blocking ability paired with Halak's brilliance between the pipes accounted for the upsets.
But it was Halak who people were cheering for and some feeling the need to rewrite a Lady Gaga song to celebrate his playoff run (re: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vscWM7qiYg). Given that Price played 72 games that season, Halak was well rested for the playoffs and delivered a stellar goaltending display!
The following season, the Montreal Canadiens' management had to make a difficult decision, to go with Carey Price or Jaroslav Halak. They chose the former and in my opinion in doing so, made the correct longterm decision. Halak has done well in St. Louis the last couple seasons, but back in Montreal, Price has established himself as a top goalie in the league.
Some may have believed that Montreal should have gone with Halak, but Carey's numbers have been very strong! In terms of a longterm goalie of the future, Carey Price is the man for the job. Despite all the pressure, Price has figured out how to overcome it and post Goal Against Averages of 2.35 and 2.43 in these last two years. Bearing in mind that the Habs aren't the most staunch defensive team in front of him, as well as a team that struggles mightily to put the puck in the net, Carey Price has developed into a consistent #1 goalie who is now making people consider him as the goalie for team Canada in the 2014 Olympics. It has been a journey to this point with bumps along the way, but it is that same composed and collected demeanor that has helped Price right the ship in Montreal.
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