The wait is finally over.
After trading playoff hero Jaroslav Halak to the St. Louis Blues earlier this summer, the Montreal Canadians took their sweet time re-signing Carey Price. On Thursday, however, the Canadiens did exactly that, re-sign goaltender Carey Price.
General manager Pierre Gauthier had this to say in a statement after the team announced the signing:
"We are extremely happy that Carey has agreed to pursue his career with the Canadiens, Carey is a key member of our Club. He has proven that he has what it takes to be a good goaltender in the league, and we are confident he will perform to the best of his abilities for years to come in a Canadiens uniform."
The contract is for two years, worth a total of $5.5 million. The 23-year-old Price posted a goals against average of 2.77, a save percentage of .912 and a record of 13-20-5 in 41 games last season with the Habs.
Before making it to the National Hockey League, Price was named CHL Goaltender of the Year, World Junior Championship Tournament MVP and American Hockey League Playoff MVP. He has also won World Junior gold with Canada and a Calder Cup with the Hamilton Bulldogs.
Even with that impressive resume, the Canadiens are still taking a risk by sticking with Price, with his statistics dropping considerably in the playoffs. In 15-career NHL playoff games, Price owns a GAA of 3.17, a save percentage of .894 and a record of just 5-11. In 134-career regular-season games, Price owns a GAA of 2.73, a save percentage of .912 and a record of 60-48-18. It also seems like Price doesn't play as well as he can once the crowd turns on him.
A risk, no doubt. Will it be worth it? Only time will tell.
**Lukas can be contacted by e-mail at lukas.bib@gmx.com. Follow Lukas on Twitter @lukas_nhl for breaking sports scores, news and rumors.
[ad#End Post]
- Category: NHL
- Tags: carey price, Hockey, Montreal Canadiens, nhl
"Carey is a key member of our club". I am quite sure that it wasn't Carey Price who led the habs into the playoffs and almost into the Stanley Cup Finals. "He has proven that he has what it takes to be a good goaltender in the leauge". I do not know where he gets this idea from. Carey Price has some good games, but most of the time he is not what people say he is. To make a long story short, I dislike pierre gauthiers decisions greatly! I do not see any logic in his choices. Pierre Gauthier, if you are reading this, please, PLEASE, get your act together.
I agree, Leo. I think that sticking Jaro Halak would have been the better decision. Price has proven that he has what it takes to play in the NHL, however he needs to display those talents on a nightly basis, rather than taking nights off.
Thanks for the comment, Leo.
I guess the way pierre gauthier sees it and the way i have no choice but to agree with his diecision in blind faith is based on past accomplishment. Carey price is the younger goaltender and he has alot more praises with the beliefs that he may become a much more elite goalie in time. its true goalies take their time to find form but if this was a fluke for halak and he once again becomes human not that i dont praise everything he did last year, Montreal would look like the fools again for giving up on a possible future goaltender as they have in the past when losing vokoun and of course Patrick Roy (amazing with us, elite in the later years). Depending on the analysis they chose to go with Price has the higher value and many gm's would have jumped on him. One thing to live by in regards to price...The Sky's the Limit, and he cant go down much further then he is
He could, but depending on how much time that takes, Gauthier may have over paid for him.
High risk, high reward I guess...
Thanks for the comment, Dustin.