Price

[GNick99]

If the big return is there this summer....it should be...would you trade him or risk losing him for nil in a year? Or maybe even bigger gamble the big long term 8-9 million contract on him? Expectations and extra stress of playing here generally wear on these kind of goalies and curtail their career. Roy wanted out of here at 30, Dryden was done at 32, Theodore 30, Plante 34. But Dryden and Plante were on dynasty teams, others not

[Skilly]

I think the question won't be "will Price want out" but rather "does Angela want to stay".

I don't think she ever forgave John Lu for reporting on her pregnancy, and its usually the wives that think the grass is greener elsewhere.

[jkr]

Jan 24, 2017 7:35:30 GMT -5 Skilly said:

I think the question won't be "will Price want out" but rather "does Angela want to stay".

I don't think she ever forgave John Lu for reporting on her pregnancy, and its usually the wives that think the grass is greener elsewhere.

You may have something there. Wasn't it Pronger's wife who wanted out in Edmonton & forced them to deal him to Anaheim?

Bergevin should be working on an extension for his most important player NOW rather than giving them to players he can afford to lose ( EX: Desharnais, Plekanec). There is no one in the organization that can come close to Price. If you lose him start the rebuild.

[blny]

I think if what happened with Lu were an issue the Prices would have demanded a trade instead of waiting out the contract. Still, he's not the player you wait to sign. Get the extension done sooner, rather than later.

[Skilly]

Jan 24, 2017 9:12:23 GMT -5 blny said:

I think if what happened with Lu were an issue the Prices would have demanded a trade instead of waiting out the contract. Still, he's not the player you wait to sign. Get the extension done sooner, rather than later.

Has there ever been a player who demanded a trade because of the local media??

Price wouldn't demand a trade. I don't even think Angela spoke to him then about moving .... but when you have the option to go where ever you want. Then past issues get looked at, and that would be a tick in the CON tally. I'm just saying I would not be surprised to see Carey want to test the open market after next season. Pressure from wife, a team that completely relies on him, a fan base that analyzes every game ad nauseum, a rabid media, harsh winters, taxes, things can add up quickly ... I think it is imperative this team have a deep Cup run to sway Price to re-sign.

[Skilly]

Jan 24, 2017 7:35:30 GMT -5 Skilly said:

I think the question won't be "will Price want out" but rather "does Angela want to stay".

I don't think she ever forgave John Lu for reporting on her pregnancy, and its usually the wives that think the grass is greener elsewhere.

To clarify ... I think she did publicly forgive John Lu after he sent her a letter apologizing. But like she said at the time "Announcing you are going to be parents for the first time is literally a once in a life time experience that you took away from us" ... I think there could (I may be out in left field too) be some residual angst there over that

[blny]

Jan 24, 2017 14:14:21 GMT -5 Skilly said:

Jan 24, 2017 9:12:23 GMT -5 blny said:

I think if what happened with Lu were an issue the Prices would have demanded a trade instead of waiting out the contract. Still, he's not the player you wait to sign. Get the extension done sooner, rather than later.

Has there ever been a player who demanded a trade because of the local media??

Price wouldn't demand a trade. I don't even think Angela spoke to him then about moving .... but when you have the option to go where ever you want. Then past issues get looked at, and that would be a tick in the CON tally. I'm just saying I would not be surprised to see Carey want to test the open market after next season. Pressure from wife, a team that completely relies on him, a fan base that analyzes every game ad nauseum, a rabid media, harsh winters, taxes, things can add up quickly ... I think it is imperative this team have a deep Cup run to sway Price to re-sign.

Local media no. But, as mentioned above, Pronger's wife had a part to play in their hasty departure from Edmonton. I'd be more than surprised if that was the only instance of a player moving on before the expiration of a contract because of family reasons. Teams just keep it on the DL. I figure it got out from the Oilers because they were so mad about it all.

[Skilly]

Jan 24, 2017 14:34:02 GMT -5 blny said:

Jan 24, 2017 14:14:21 GMT -5 Skilly said:

Has there ever been a player who demanded a trade because of the local media??

Price wouldn't demand a trade. I don't even think Angela spoke to him then about moving .... but when you have the option to go where ever you want. Then past issues get looked at, and that would be a tick in the CON tally. I'm just saying I would not be surprised to see Carey want to test the open market after next season. Pressure from wife, a team that completely relies on him, a fan base that analyzes every game ad nauseum, a rabid media, harsh winters, taxes, things can add up quickly ... I think it is imperative this team have a deep Cup run to sway Price to re-sign.

Local media no. But, as mentioned above, Pronger's wife had a part to play in their hasty departure from Edmonton. I'd be more than surprised if that was the only instance of a player moving on before the expiration of a contract because of family reasons. Teams just keep it on the DL. I figure it got out from the Oilers because they were so mad about it all.

From what I remember , Pronger's wife hated the Edmonton weather

[franko]

Jan 24, 2017 19:44:49 GMT -5 Skilly said:

From what I remember , Pronger's wife hated the Edmonton weather

[blny]

Jan 24, 2017 19:44:49 GMT -5 Skilly said:

Jan 24, 2017 14:34:02 GMT -5 blny said:

Local media no. But, as mentioned above, Pronger's wife had a part to play in their hasty departure from Edmonton. I'd be more than surprised if that was the only instance of a player moving on before the expiration of a contract because of family reasons. Teams just keep it on the DL. I figure it got out from the Oilers because they were so mad about it all.

From what I remember , Pronger's wife hated the Edmonton weather

Who doesn't? lol

[seventeen]

I'd be tempted to trade Price. I can cite many examples of teams winning the Cup without a star goalie, but have a very hard time finding any who didn't have an elite centre. It all depends what one could get for him, because goalies simply don't command what they truly should. Perhaps because GM's use the very same logic I am right now. You can win the Cup without a great goalie. Keeping Price has a price...namely a contract that probably will be in the $10 MM range. That's $3.5MM that has to be cut somewhere else. And the team is still short an elite centre. Didn't Bergevin say that getting a great centre would cost a Price? Maybe trades can be made.

Tough call for sure.

[franko]

Jan 25, 2017 1:59:54 GMT -5 seventeen said:

I'd be tempted to trade Price. I can cite many examples of teams winning the Cup without a star goalie, but have a very hard time finding any who didn't have an elite centre. It all depends what one could get for him, because goalies simply don't command what they truly should. Perhaps because GM's use the very same logic I am right now. You can win the Cup without a great goalie. Keeping Price has a price...namely a contract that probably will be in the $10 MM range. That's $3.5MM that has to be cut somewhere else. And the team is still short an elite centre. Didn't Bergevin say that getting a great centre would cost a Price? Maybe trades can be made.

6 of 1 . . .

Montoya as #1? As much as he is doing the job as back-up, he's a back-up. Though I guess Halak is available . . .

Tough call for sure.

I'll say.

And let's face it, MB is in tough with the decision: trade Price it's PK all over again; keep Price but not get that centre, he's falling down.

The only thing that will appease the masses is something like McDavid for Ghetto and a late 2nd rounder. Too many people (every team's fans problem) want the best for the dregs, and aren't willing to pay the price (unintentional) for the players they need.

[CentreHice]

Stephane Waite would have input, I'd hope.

Maybe Price has been "upset" recently because his injury is chronic or "lingering". That'd be beyond frustrating, hoping that everything is okay until his UFA cash-in in 2018.

Perhaps that's what Bergevin is waiting to find out, too...which could be why a possible "test the UFA waters" scenario isn't being pre-empted by talks of a contract extension now. I mean, he IS the best goalie on the planet, isn't he?


Price looked razor sharp last night vs. Calgary, though. And vs. the Sabres in preserving the single point twice in the last minute or so.

[blny]

If Montreal had a goalie ready to step in and play a legit platoon system, maybe you can risk it. Still, it's too big a risk for me. I don't see Lindgren, Hawkey, or Fucale as being ready for that yet. Given the 2 year extension given to Montoya, regardless of expansion implications, I don't think the club feels any of the three are either.

We don't know where the cap ceiling is going to be. We do know that Plekanec's deal expires before we have to pay Price anymore than the $6.5 he currently makes. We know that Markov, if he plays beyond this year, will be at a significantly lower amount and hopefully year by year. My hope would be that by 2018-19 Sergachev has assumed the role he was drafted for and Beaulieu is signed long term to a favourable amount (less than $4 million). Pacioretty will be entering the last year of his steal of a deal. Hopefully Radu is signed to a multi year deal similar to what he's making now. Hopefully Galchenyuk is signed long term. He'll likely require a deal similar to the likes of Monahan, Forsberg, etc. If Montreal offers Price the same sort of deal Lundqvist signed ($8.5 million), there's money for a #2 center at a similar hit to the $6 million it's going to take to sign Galchenyuk. Or, you take half that money and give it to Pacioretty, and the other half goes to a tweener. Maybe it's Danault.

Either way, the money is there for Price. What the club does for a #2C dictates what they do with Pacioretty.

[duster]

The Roy trade is cautionary tale about how the team deluded itself into thinking a lesser talent in nets could be made up in other ways. I would feel sorry for any goalie who has to fill Price's shoes in much the same way I felt sorry for Thibault. The team was lucky it found Theodore. I think one of the reasons Price was drafted by the Habs is he's a pretty cool customer in general and can handle pressure. Presuming he does go elsewhere, any team he would go to would make him the marquee player and he'd feel pressure, the media and high expectations anyway.

It's not like his wife wants to be a movie star and move to LA. She's from Kennewick which is a small town and they live in Kelowna year round which isn't exactly Hollywood. Pronger's wife was a socialite from St-Louis who wanted to shop Rodeo Drive and hang out with movie stars. Night and day, imo

He is the franchise player in much the same way that Crosby is for Pittsburgh. Bergevin should be pulling out all the stops to extend him this summer.

[Skilly]

Angela Price is a lifestyle and fashion blogger who has co-hosted a local Montreal morning talk show on Global .... I think that would qualify as a socialite,

Hey, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying she hates Montreal, although she has said the worst part of Montreal is the weather, specifically the winters .... I'm saying, she will have a big say in Price's decision. Happy wife, happy life and all that

[jkr]

Jan 25, 2017 16:02:51 GMT -5 Skilly said:

Angela Price is a lifestyle and fashion blogger who has co-hosted a local Montreal morning talk show on Global .... I think that would qualify as a socialite,

Hey, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying she hates Montreal, although she has said the worst part of Montreal is the weather, specifically the winters .... I'm saying, she will have a big say in Price's decision. Happy wife, happy life and all that

Wasn't she on some reality show - think it was called Hockey Wives?

[Skilly]

Jan 25, 2017 19:38:20 GMT -5 jkr said:

Jan 25, 2017 16:02:51 GMT -5 Skilly said:

Angela Price is a lifestyle and fashion blogger who has co-hosted a local Montreal morning talk show on Global .... I think that would qualify as a socialite,

Hey, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying she hates Montreal, although she has said the worst part of Montreal is the weather, specifically the winters .... I'm saying, she will have a big say in Price's decision. Happy wife, happy life and all that

Wasn't she on some reality show - think it was called Hockey Wives?

Yes she was ... Her and Brandon Prust's girlfriend , socialite Maripier Morin, were the Habs wives

[seventeen]

Jan 25, 2017 7:16:17 GMT -5 franko said:

Jan 25, 2017 1:59:54 GMT -5 seventeen said:

I'd be tempted to trade Price. I can cite many examples of teams winning the Cup without a star goalie, but have a very hard time finding any who didn't have an elite centre. It all depends what one could get for him, because goalies simply don't command what they truly should. Perhaps because GM's use the very same logic I am right now. You can win the Cup without a great goalie. Keeping Price has a price...namely a contract that probably will be in the $10 MM range. That's $3.5MM that has to be cut somewhere else. And the team is still short an elite centre. Didn't Bergevin say that getting a great centre would cost a Price? Maybe trades can be made.

6 of 1 . . .

Montoya as #1? As much as he is doing the job as back-up, he's a back-up. Though I guess Halak is available . . .

Tough call for sure.

I'll say.

And let's face it, MB is in tough with the decision: trade Price it's PK all over again; keep Price but not get that centre, he's falling down.

The only thing that will appease the masses is something like McDavid for Ghetto and a late 2nd rounder. Too many people (every team's fans problem) want the best for the dregs, and aren't willing to pay the price (unintentional) for the players they need.

Hey, I'm not the guy getting paid $4MM a year. If I was, I would give you detailed architectural plans. Behind closed doors. And then I'd have to kill you. So be thankful I'm not the GM.

[seventeen]

Jan 25, 2017 13:43:27 GMT -5 blny said:

If Montreal had a goalie ready to step in and play a legit platoon system, maybe you can risk it. Still, it's too big a risk for me. I don't see Lindgren, Hawkey, or Fucale as being ready for that yet. Given the 2 year extension given to Montoya, regardless of expansion implications, I don't think the club feels any of the three are either.

We don't know where the cap ceiling is going to be. We do know that Plekanec's deal expires before we have to pay Price anymore than the $6.5 he currently makes. We know that Markov, if he plays beyond this year, will be at a significantly lower amount and hopefully year by year. My hope would be that by 2018-19 Sergachev has assumed the role he was drafted for and Beaulieu is signed long term to a favourable amount (less than $4 million). Pacioretty will be entering the last year of his steal of a deal. Hopefully Radu is signed to a multi year deal similar to what he's making now. Hopefully Galchenyuk is signed long term. He'll likely require a deal similar to the likes of Monahan, Forsberg, etc. If Montreal offers Price the same sort of deal Lundqvist signed ($8.5 million), there's money for a #2 center at a similar hit to the $6 million it's going to take to sign Galchenyuk. Or, you take half that money and give it to Pacioretty, and the other half goes to a tweener. Maybe it's Danault.

Either way, the money is there for Price. What the club does for a #2C dictates what they do with Pacioretty.

That's 4 'hopes' in there.

I'm not yet convinced Chucky is a full #1. The glass half full part of me says yes, but it's still competing with the glass half empty side. Right now he's still a liability on the defensive side. If he was merely ok at that part of the game, I'd say we had our #1.

[seventeen]

Jan 25, 2017 15:26:32 GMT -5 duster said:

She's from Kennewick which is a small town and they live in Kelowna year round which isn't exactly Hollywood.

Really? I've never seen him there. Saw Weber in a White Spot once. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled. He might want my autograph.

[blny]

Jan 25, 2017 23:48:45 GMT -5 seventeen said:

Jan 25, 2017 13:43:27 GMT -5 blny said:

If Montreal had a goalie ready to step in and play a legit platoon system, maybe you can risk it. Still, it's too big a risk for me. I don't see Lindgren, Hawkey, or Fucale as being ready for that yet. Given the 2 year extension given to Montoya, regardless of expansion implications, I don't think the club feels any of the three are either.

We don't know where the cap ceiling is going to be. We do know that Plekanec's deal expires before we have to pay Price anymore than the $6.5 he currently makes. We know that Markov, if he plays beyond this year, will be at a significantly lower amount and hopefully year by year. My hope would be that by 2018-19 Sergachev has assumed the role he was drafted for and Beaulieu is signed long term to a favourable amount (less than $4 million). Pacioretty will be entering the last year of his steal of a deal. Hopefully Radu is signed to a multi year deal similar to what he's making now. Hopefully Galchenyuk is signed long term. He'll likely require a deal similar to the likes of Monahan, Forsberg, etc. If Montreal offers Price the same sort of deal Lundqvist signed ($8.5 million), there's money for a #2 center at a similar hit to the $6 million it's going to take to sign Galchenyuk. Or, you take half that money and give it to Pacioretty, and the other half goes to a tweener. Maybe it's Danault.

Either way, the money is there for Price. What the club does for a #2C dictates what they do with Pacioretty.

That's 4 'hopes' in there.

I'm not yet convinced Chucky is a full #1. The glass half full part of me says yes, but it's still competing with the glass half empty side. Right now he's still a liability on the defensive side. If he was merely ok at that part of the game, I'd say we had our #1.

He took big strides this year. There were even examples in his short-lived return of his willingness to back check, and do it well. He's going to make some gaffs. He's going to try to do too much. Even that is working itself out of his game though. We have to remember he's only 23 come February. On a bonafide #1, he's shown what he can do. On a lesser line, with lesser linemates, he's shown he can lead the team in points per 60. He's no Crosby, but he's a #1.

I don't see why his side won't use the contracts of Monahan and Forsberg as a negotiating tactic. Similar ages and levels of performance. Given Montreal bridged him, and gave Gallagher the long term deal, I can't see him biting for less. Monahan is 7 years and $6.35 million. Forsberg is 6x6. If they can split the difference on the dollar amount and get him locked down for 8 years, do it.

Price may well be the best in the world, but I don't see him getting more than Hank got. He'll be 31 when his next contract starts. Lundqvist was 32 when he signed his current deal, and you can bet that the Rangers are quietly wishing they hadn't gone for 7 years. Hank's play is starting to drop off. Give Carey the same contract. It's the best comparable. The only "hope" for me is that there's a back up for him that can play 25 games.

I don't think it's unreasonable to think that by 2018 Sergachev will be a fixture. He won't be at his peak, but I can see him playing with Weber; with Shea being the stay-at-home guy covering for him. When PK broke in, he often paired with Hal Gill. Gill let him do all the leg work, and Hal just stayed back. Shea isn't as slow as Gill, and should still be able to produce on the PP.

Radulov, long term, at what he's making now may be the only pipe dream.

[duster]

I wasn't aware that Angela Price was a TV personality. Not many of them live in K-town. It must be a Montreal-only thing perhaps.

What it boils down to is I don't see the Habs winning the Cup without him, so you sign him regardless. They were willing to give PK $9 million a year. Price is more valuable to the team than PK ever was, imo. Like Roy in his heyday, he can win a playoff series by himself. I don't see a centre like McDavid doing something like that. Pittsburgh needed both Crosby and Malkin...

[Skilly]

Jan 25, 2017 23:52:24 GMT -5 seventeen said:

Jan 25, 2017 15:26:32 GMT -5 duster said:

She's from Kennewick which is a small town and they live in Kelowna year round which isn't exactly Hollywood.

Really? I've never seen him there. Saw Weber in a White Spot once. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled. He might want my autograph.

They live year round in Montreal on the South Shore

They have a summer home in BC ... near Kelowna (or Kennewick)

[GNick99]

I think a great goalie is over rated in a playoff series. Difference between a .930% save percentage goalie and a .920% goalie in a playoff series is not very much. It's a hundredth of a percentage points, or on every 100 shots it means 1 goal. Not enough of a difference to make up for a hole in your team elsewhere. Certainly not enough of a difference to make up for having a hole down the middle. It will mean every 3.5 to 4 games or so team saves one goal. A goal saved spread out over 3-4 games isn't going to win you very many more playoff series'.

A good reason why great goalies don't seem to win cups, over last 10-15 years Price, Luongo, Lundqvist, etc... Are arguably best goalies in game and play on good teams. What do they all have in common? None have won a Cup! THere is a reason. Holtby last year was best gaolie in league on a very good team...Washington never came close to a cup. Instead cup was won by a late round draft pick fresh up from the AHL. Hasek all those years in Buffalo and Ottawa never won a cup, goes to Detriot wins a cup. He had strength down the middle playing in front of him.

It's down the middle which brings a team Stanley Cups. Guys like Neimi, Marc-Andre Fleury, Matt Murray, have all won Cups. From 2008-2010 the Stanley Cup winning goalies were Chris Osgood, Marc-Andre Fleury and Antti Niemi. You can call them good goalies...but can you call them great goalies? No, I can't call them of that caliber. Look at those Cup teams down the middle though? Crosby/Malkin, Datsyuk/Zetterberg, Toews. Boston in 2011 Bergeron/Kreijc, Kings with Kopitar/Carter. None of those last 10 Cup winners had the best goalie in league, but all had top notch centers.

[seventeen]

That's exactly the elephant in the Habs dressing room, Gnick.

Weak st centre. Very weak at centre.

[blny]

I think if our group was better in the faceoff circle, they'd manage okay. IMO, that's the biggest weakness with the group we have.

[seventeen]

If only we still had Lars Eller.

[CentreHice]

Feb 7, 2017 0:22:38 GMT -5 seventeen said:

That's exactly the elephant in the Habs dressing room, Gnick.

Weak st centre. Very weak at centre.

It was supposed to have been addressed 4.5 years ago at the 2012 draft.....

[seventeen]

When asked about Galch being on LW again, Therrien said that wasn't the case. Chuck and DD alternated taking faceoffs depending on which side of the ice the puck was being dropped. I really didn't pay any attention to actual positioning during that line's ice time so can't confirm that.