Price’s stock soars despite slumping stats
On the heels of his worst season, Canadiens goalkeeper still rates as league’s best in many eyes
When EA Sports rated Connor McDavid higher than Sidney Crosby in the latest NHL 19 hockey video game, it wasn’t exactly a surprise considering that the Oilers captain was named the league’s most outstanding player for the second straight year.
But when Carey Price ranked higher than any other goalie in the league, it did seem like the video game company was working with some out-of-date stats.
After all, the Montreal Canadiens goalie had the worst season of his career last year. His goals-against average ranked 42nd out of the 49 eligible goalies, while his .900 save percentage was the fifth worst in the league.
Was his overall rating of 92 — only McDavid, Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin are ranked higher in the game — a glitch? Not according to some of the game’s biggest stars at this week’s NHL Player Media Tour, many of whom believe last season was nothing more than a blip.
“He’s one of the best goaltenders of all time and there’s no two ways about it,” said New Jersey’s Taylor Hall, who won the Hart Trophy as league MVP last season. “If you ever do score one on him, you remember it. I scored against him only twice, I think. He’s an amazing goalie. I know he didn’t have the season that he wanted last year, but he’s still intimidating to go against.”
Price, who has an eightyear, US$84-million extension that kicks in this season, will be the highest paid goalie in the league. And he will have to be one of the best if the Canadiens hope to climb out of the basement and challenge for a playoff spot.
Neither is impossible if Price can return to the form that had him winning the Vezina and Hart Trophies in
2014-15.
“We’ve got the best goalie in the league,” said Max Domi, who was traded to Montreal from Arizona in June. “We all believe in him. I don’t really know him yet, but he’s a big part of our team. If he’s going, we have a chance every night.”
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Vancouver Canucks fans, who are tired of hearing how Toronto is the centre of the hockey universe, might not want to hear this. But like it or not, Bo Horvat is a huge fan of the Maple Leafs.
Well, to be more accurate, he’s a fan of their rebuild and what it might mean for his own team.
“You look at Toronto, even three years ago, they had all these prospects — (William) Nylander, (Mitch) Marner, (Auston) Matthews, all these guys — and as soon as they established themselves as NHL players they’re team took off,” said Horvat. “It can happen quick. These prospects that are coming up right now are that good that they can make a difference, which is exciting for us.”
While Henrik and Daniel Sedin are both retired, the Canucks will count on Brock Boeser, who led the team with 29 goals and 55 points in just 62 games as a rookie last season, as well as prospects Elias Pettersson (fifth overall, 2017) and Olli Juolevi (fifth overall, 2016).
“It’s really exciting for myself and hockey fans. The future looks bright. There’s a lot of great additions, a lot of stepping stones in becoming a great team. Obviously, it takes time.”
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The last time Matt Duchene saw Erik Karlsson was a few days ago in Ottawa. As for whether he expects to see him next week at the start of the training camp, Duchene really has no clue.
“I think we’re all obviously waiting to see what happens with that,” Duchene said of the Senators captain, whose name has been on the trading block for the past six months or so. “At the same time, it’s the business. Any one could be gone at any time. It’s the tough part of the business, but it’s something you understand and you’re used to. It’s not something that weighs on you day to day.”
When asked if he could envision a scenario where Karlsson remains with the Senators for the final year of his contract, Duchene said he tries not to think about it.
“I don’t know where his head’s at,” he said. “He’s an outstanding player that any team would love to have. You try not to think about that stuff and have your heart in too many places because sometimes it’s a waste of emotion because you can’t control what happens.”
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Mark Scheifele had not seen Patrik Laine this summer, so the news that the Winnipeg Jets winger had reportedly dropped 14 pounds this summer caught him a bit off guard. Then again, Scheifele was not all that surprised.
While Laine has already established himself as one of the league’s top snipers, having scored 44 goals last season, Scheifele said the drop in weight is a sign that his teammate is intent on becoming even more than that.
“I think that’s great,” Scheifele said of Laine. “To see him taking care of his body and spending more attention to the gym to get to that level is awesome. I think you just expect him to grow. That’s the biggest thing. Obviously he’s a young guy and still trying to find his way. Obviously, he’s doing a good job of it. But you just want to see him continue to grow into an all-around player and take another step this year.”
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With forward Artemi Panarin and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky heading into the final year of their contracts — and reports that both intend on signing elsewhere as free agents — Columbus defenceman Seth Jones understands that the window could be closing on the Blue Jackets’ championship hopes.
“It is what it is. It’s not something I can control as a player,” said Jones. “I know that’s in the back of everyone’s mind right now, but I have no doubt in my mind that if we keep those guys throughout the year and we don’t trade them, they will be on for our team. They’ll be ready to go.”