PRICE WARY OF NHL PLAN
‘Lot of questions’ remain
Carey Price wants a chance to play for the Stanley Cup this summer, but the Canadiens goaltender said he’s not ready to commit to playing in the NHL’S proposed 24-team tournament.
“I would tell you that I wouldn’t be comfortable voting at this particular time,” Price said Thursday during a video conference from Kennewick, Wash. “There are still a lot of questions that need to be answered. We’re in a unique situation. The NHL and the NHLPA are trying to make the best of a very difficult situation and ... I’d like to play, but we have a lot of questions and a lot of scenarios that have to be covered before I vote yea or nay.”
Price said there are health concerns and he’s waiting for a decision on which two cities will serve as the hubs for competition. The list of possible sites is being trimmed, with Pittsburgh and Columbus definitely out, while Vancouver — a city that would offer a comfort level for B.C. native Price — appears doubtful.
He said there was a possibility some teammates might feel uncomfortable and decide not to play, and that’s a decision that he’ll respect.
The NHL return-to-play protocol calls for training camps to open on July 10 and Price said he’s starting to make plans for a return to Montreal. But again, there are still questions to be answered.
Price played junior hockey in Kennewick in Washington state, home for his wife Angela, who is expecting their third child. When the coronavirus halted the NHL season, they moved in with Angela’s family.
“We figured this was the best option,” said Price.
He said they stayed close to home in the early weeks of the pandemic because Washington state was an early hot spot for the virus. In recent weeks, he’s been able to use the Tri-city Americans’ gym and practice rink, but there’s nobody around to shoot pucks at him.
Some fans were unhappy when the Canadiens were selected for the 24-team tournament, particularly because the Canadiens would lose what little chance they would have of winning the draft lottery if they upset the Pittsburgh Penguins in the best-of-five qualifying round.
For Price, there’s no question of forfeiting an immediate opportunity for a chance at a prospect.
The Canadiens are the underdogs against the Penguins and Price was asked what would make the Canadiens think they could win.
“We’re fresh,” he replied. “We say at the beginning of every season, it’s chaos, and this time we’re returning into a playoff format right from the get-go and it’s going to be chaotic. I think our preparation over the next month will be paramount.
“I know we’re an underrated team, a very streaky team,” added Price. “We’ve proved that we can get really hot and that’s what it’s all about in the playoffs.”
There have been numerous articles written about the Price factor in the playoffs. An NHLPA poll selected Price as the best goaltender in the NHL and some players have said they would rather not face him in a short series.
“It’s motivating,” Price said when asked about those comments. “Without a doubt, it’s a great opportunity for me when I’m well rested. That’s been well-documented. I’m trying to prepare myself to come into a playoff scenario.”
As for the Penguins, Price noted they have players who know what it takes to win the Stanley Cup, but he’s not concerned about his team’s relative lack of playoff experience.
“You don’t get to the NHL very often without having won something at some level. And I think a lot of players can draw on those types of experiences, and look to players like me, Shea (Weber) and Brendan Gallagher for leadership,” he said.
I know we’re an underrated team, a very streaky team. We’ve proved that we can get really hot and that’s what it’s all about in the playoffs.