The 2015-16 season was a nightmare for the Montreal Canadiens, to say the least. Numerous injuries, including a season-ending injury to star net minder Carey Price on November 25th, 2015, was one of the most glaring issues with this team. Add in the fact that secondary offense was non-existent and the second best defenseman on the team is 38-years-old, it made this a season to forget. Hopefully the Canadiens off-season will be one to remember.
Montreal Canadiens Off-season: Goalies
The Canadiens actually do have some intriguing pieces in net past Price and sophomore Mike Condon. Because let us not sugar coat it. Price has suffered numerous injuries over the past six or so years. This was the worst by far, allowing him to only play 12 games. The blame also may be on the coaching and medical staff for putting him back in the crease far too early, but that is another story for another time.
While Price is just entering his prime years at 28-years-old, securing a goalie to take the crease if/when needed is going to be a priority this summer and beyond. We will be taking a look at the goalies already in the organization past Price.
Mike Condon played his heart out as a rookie for the Canadiens this year. His story is one of the most inspiring and heart warming you could see. In a span of three and a half years, he went from graduating college and playing a handful of games in the ECHL, to being named the starting goalie without ever being drafted or on any NHL scouts radar. Despite having some stretches of brilliant play, the pressure got to Condon and he was not able to carry the Canadiens like Price can, finishing the season with a 21-25-6, .903 SV%, and a 2.71 GAA.
Obviously it is unfair to compare the two, but Condon did have some amazing games when the lack of offense did not affect the Canadiens, but he just could not stay consistent. Perhaps he will be able to jump the hurdle and become a reliable option for the Canadiens, but judging from his performance in the last half of the season, it might be worth having a back up plan to the back up. Condon was also chosen to represent USA at the 2016 IIHF World Championship in Moscow, Russia, but he did not have a great tourament, going 2-2, 2.55 GAA, and a .878 SV%.
Zachary Fucale was Montreal’s 36th overall pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft and has been developing well since. He is a promising prospect but he will need some more time with the St. John’s IceCaps. He did struggle in his first professional season, going 16-18-4 with a .903 SV% and an alarming 3.11 GAA. But much like their parent club, the IceCaps have numerous issues and that could be why Fucale had such a disappointing rookie season. But he is still high on the depth chart and should be starting a game for Montreal within the next few years.
Charlie Lindgren was a late season signing by GM Marc Bergevin this year, after seeing how much Condon was struggling. The 22-year-old played for St. Cloud State University for the past 3 seasons, having a record of 28-8-1, .944 SV%, and a GAA of 2.08 with 5 shutouts in 2015-16. He suited up for one game for the Canadiens, winning his first appearance while stopping 26 of 28 shots against the Carolina Hurricanes. Some more seasoning in the minors may be needed, but he is definitely a promising goalie to keep an eye on to take the back up spot.
Michael McNiven was ranked 21st overall among North Americans goalies for the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, but went unselected. Montreal then invited him to training camp the following fall, where Bergevin rewarded him with a three-year contract. After training camp ended, he was sent back to the Owen Sound Attack in the OHL, where he put up a 21-18-10 record, with a 2.94 GAA, .902 SV%, and 3 SO in 53 games. They made the playoffs, but were knocked out in the first round by the London Knights.
There is no doubt that Price still the owner of the crease, but his recent injuries have raised some concerns. Every single injury has been lower body and it is thought to be his knee that affects him, which is obviously crucial to making fluid saves, something that Price is famously known for.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppgKB7MqhA8
As long as Price can stay healthy, there is no reason to worry. He is the best goalie in the league and is still only 28. But should the injuries begin to take over his career, Bergevin and his scouting staff have accumulated a decent stable of goalie prospects. However, signing an NHL calibre goalie this summer may be an area of interest for the Canadiens, as Condon still seems to be shaky, Lindgren only has one career game with no minor league experience, while Fucale and McNiven definitely need more seasoning. Signing someone to take Ben Scrivens place, who is expected to be released this summer, would be a great idea.
