In this century, the Montreal Canadiens have rarely had players named to elite trophy nominations and hardly ever have had league superstars play for them. Jose Theodore won the Hart Trophy in 2002 while P.K. Subban claimed the Norris in 2013. Saku Koivu (2002) and Max Pacioretty (2012) won the Bill Masterton Trophy for dedication and perseverance, but that is far from being a major trophy. However, a Carey Price Hart nomination would buck the trend of a silent Canadiens team at the annual NHL awards. A nomination for Price would also make a whole lot of sense.
After entering the league in 2007 as a 20-year-old, Price needed some time for adjustment and was under much scrutiny from the Montreal media and fans. Many thought he wouldn’t develop into the potential “purebred” that then-general manager Bob Gainey described him to be. He seemed to be a draft-flop.
Now in his 8th season the league, all with Montreal, Price has developed into that pure-bread, and much more than that. As Barry Trotz puts it; Price is the best player in the league and “he’s a difference maker, every night.” That’s coming from the coach of Alex Ovechkin.
Coming off a career-year with a 34-20-5 record, a 0.927 save percentage, 2.32 goals-against-average and six shutouts, plus an Olympic Gold medal, Price has incredibly stepped up his game for the 2014-2015 season. His poise, calmness and domination in the net has been surreal and he’s the reason why Montreal currently sits first in the Eastern Conference with 81 points in 59 games.
With a GAA in his career ranging from 2.32 to 2.83 (2008-2009), through 47 games this season, Price has a league-leading GAA of 1.91. He is the only goalie to have played at least 15 games and have a goals-against-average of less than two. Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators has a GAA of 2.01.
Price’s save percentage is also best in the league for goalies having played at least 15 games. His 0.935 SV% is good enough to surpass Rinne by four hundredths of percentage point. However, Rinne (34-8-3) is one-up on Price (33-11-3) in wins, while the Predators and the Habs sit one and two in league standings with 87 and 81 points, respectively.
Numbers talk a lot, especially in today’s NHL, but there’s one statistic that can slingshot Price towards a Hart nomination; the Canadiens sit 22nd in league-scoring with 157 goals for, but they lead the NHL with only 131 goals against, 90 of which went past Price. Price has allowed two goals or less in 33 of his 47 games, going 28-4-1- and 5-7-2 when allowing more than two goals. Talk about a Hart trophy.
Numbers aside now, let’s think about what the Montreal Canadiens would look like without the services of Price. They would be one of the lowest scoring teams in the league, and hypothetically, Dustin Tokarski (2.70 GAA, 0.914 SV%, 5-5-2) would be the starter, and Montreal would be scored on quite a bit. They certainly wouldn’t be leading the Eastern Conference with a quarter of the season left to play and the team would be as far from Cup contenders as the Hartford Whalers.
Thanks to Mr. Price, they are one of the best teams in the East- they might not be the strongest, fastest or more skilled, but they have a goalie who doesn’t let many pucks go by him. The team is considered to have the best shot at their 25th Cup since they won in 1993 and with a trip to the Conference Final already in Price’s resumé, he will look to bring the team even further in the spring of 2015.
The Hart Trophy is awarded to the most valuable player to his team, and without a doubt, Price’s value to the team is unmeasurable and irreplaceable. One game in particular stands out and shows his value to the squad. On February 16, the Canadiens marched into Detroit with the swagger of a 4-0-1 record in their past five games. The Joe Louis Arena is one of the more hostile arenas in the league but Price was fearless in there, dominating the game like no other player on the ice. He was stopping everything that game and seemed to be in control of the pace of play. The Canadiens offense was once again stagnate and only generated a goal with with 2:30 left to go off a Tomas Plekanec wrist shot.
Price, making 25 saves for his 30th career shutout and fifth of the season, gave his team a chance to win on the road, in a divisional match-up. Any player that gives his side a shot to win on the road in a four-point game, no matter the position, should be regarded as their most valuable player. Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos, and Alex Ovechkin can all turn the tide of a game, no matter at home or on the road, and win it. That’s what Price did that night against the Red Wings- and many other nights for that matter.
As Tony Marinaro of TSN 690 Montreal says; “Carey Price is the Sidney Crosby of the Montreal Canadiens. Nobody will insult Crosby in Pittsburgh, why are they doing it here?” He couldn’t be more right. Price is the Canadiens MVP.
With some competition from Rinne, Claude Giroux, Ryan Getzlaf, Crosby and a few others, Carey Price’s name should be listed as a finalist for the Hart Trophy come June, and don’t be surprised if he brings her home at the end of the night.
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