Carey Price looking to rebound after disappointing 2009-10 season
When goaltender Carey Price was drafted fifth overall by the Montreal Canadiens at the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, the team knew they were getting a blue-chip prospect. Price had an amazing
record with the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League, and quickly became the Canadiens’ goalie of the future.
Everything seemed to be going well for Price until last season, where he watched as back-up goaltender Jaroslav Halak was anointed as the team’s number one goaltender. Price had not performed
well in his starts, and was relegated to the bench soon afterward.
After being given the reins, Halak carried the Habs on his back into the playoffs. But after that brilliant playoff run, Halak was traded to the St. Louis Blues during the offseason. Price
regained his status as the team’s starting goaltender, and has been very successful as of late.
“When I was sitting on the bench, there was a decision that I made,” Price told
NHL.com. “If things weren't going to work out, it wasn't going to be from a lack of effort.”
With Halak now out of the picture, Price had to find a way to regain his composure and win games for the team. So far, that method seems to have been working, as the Habs are currently
sitting in first place in the National Hockey League’s Northeast Division with a 13-7-1 record. Price is now the proud owner of four shutouts, earning his most recent one on Saturday 20 November against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
Coming into the 2010-11 NHL season, the 23-year-old native of Anahim Lake, British Columbia knew what awaited him, and was not going to back down.
“I’ve never been one to back away from a challenge,” Price said just before the beginning of the Habs’ training camp. “It’s not my personality; it’s not the way I am. I’m not going to
cower away from anything.”
Although the Habs are known for their often fickle fan base, one person who has never lost faith in Price was Canadiens head coach Jacques Martin. Martin has said that last season was
one of growth and development for the young netminder.
“I felt last year was a tremendous growth for Carey Price,” Martin said. “It may be difficult to understand, and probably he himself had a tough time believing what was happening to him
was going to be good for the future of his career.”
“It’s showing this year. Maturity, attitude, composure. All those components have been a key part of his success.”
By his own admission, Price has stated that his rapid rise to star status in Montreal clouded his judgement, and it ultimately had a severe impact on his play. All he could do was watch
as Halak surpassed him, which made Price reconsider every aspect of his play and attitude.
“I’m just not going to take it for granted this year, I’m going to keep working at it,” Price said. “We want to keep winning and keep doing it all year. We don’t want it to be a short
phase.”
Price and his Habs team-mates are out to prove that they are not a flash in the pan kind of team. The team’s surprising playoff run last season was a direct result of Halak’s heroics,
and Price is out to prove that he can be the same, if not better, than the now-departed Halak.
One thing remains certain, though – if Price continues to play as well he has been lately, there is no telling how far the Canadiens can go this season. The Habs return to the ice on Wednesday
24 November, when they will face the Los Angeles Kings.
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