Price a win away from Plante’s Habs mark

It sounds strange today, but when the Montreal Canadiens chose Carey Price fifth overall in the 2005 NHL draft, many observers were surprised.

Even though amateur scouts ranked Price highly, the team’s decision to pin its hopes on the tall, slightly skinny goalie from Anahim Lake, B.C., shocked many. Fast-forward to 2019 and Price has a place waiting in the pantheon of Canadiens greats, needing one victory to tie Jacques Plante for most career wins by a Habs goalie. His next chance at reaching the milestone of 314 wins in a Canadiens jersey comes Tuesday in Los Angeles against the Kings. Price has become one of the best goalies of his era, already 29th in league history with 313 wins. (The NHL record is held by Martin Brodeur with 691. Plante, who played for four other NHL teams, had 437 career wins.)

Price played his junior hockey with the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League. Retired Washington Capitals goalie Olaf Kolzig, who had played for Tri-City, was part of the team’s ownership. During the 2004-05 lockout, Kolzig practised with the Americans and got to know Price. The two developed a strong bond. Kolzig said even as a junior, Price was “a perfect fit” to play in hockey-mad Montreal.

“He had the perfect demeanour for a goaltender,” Kolzig said. “He is not affected by the pressure of the fans, the media or the expectations.”

That probably explains why Price is in his 12th season with the Canadiens. Before he was drafted, the Canadiens had used 11 different goalies over nine seasons. Even if has still not won a Stanley Cup, Price has nonetheless brought stability in front of the Canadiens’ net.