Is Price Too Steep For Habs’ GM?
It seemed that the moment that Montreal Canadiens fans were longing had finally come: their team has become a tightly-knit squad to be taken seriously, as the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins learned at their behest, both bowing to the Habs in seven games. With the offensive prowess of Mike Cammalleri and Brian Gionta, the playmaking skills of centre Scott Gomez, the defensive work of Hal Gill and Jaroslav Spacek, it seemed that every hope was justified. Then of course, there was the stellar play of one Jaroslav Halak whose heroics between the pipes made people jump out of their seats each and every night.
Even after being brutally ousted by a much more physical Philadelphia Flyers team, it seemed that the future was bright for the bleu-blanc-rouge. And then the unthinkable happened: news that Halak was sent packing to the struggling St-Louis Blues.
Of Services No Longer Required
After what many would call a miracle run last fall that saw the Montreal Canadiens go all the way to the Eastern Conference finals, newly-appointed GM Pierre Gauthier decided that number one goaltender and national darling Jaroslav Halak would ‘not fit in against the salary cap’ and was therefore dealt to the St. Louis Blues for two players: not stars, not experienced veterans but two NHL hopefuls.
After a season and a half of regularly out-playing teammate Carey Price, Halak was finally given the nod – if not the official title – of number one goalie for his team. His performance, and the remarked enthusiasm of his team while playing in front of him left management little choice in the matter.
Some friction with certain teammates (namely one Andrei Markov who once told young Price that he might be better off heading home) and all this during practice, did nothing to enhance Price’s popularity with either the fans or management, to say nothing of his alleged ‘over-partying’, dubious work ethic during practice and his infamous taunting of the fans a la Patrick Roy. The difference being, though the gesture itself is in both cases inexcusable, Roy did the damning act after having won every worthwhile ring, trophy and accolade in the sport.
As of now, Price has shared goaltending duties with Cristobal Huet, David Aebischer and Jaroslav Halak. During the Huet era, then-GM Bob Gainey made it plain to everyone that to him, Price was the future of the Canadiens organization and he believed that the future was upon us then and there.
Despite the fact that Huet was also by all means and aspects the number one goalie, he was shipped out to Washington for nothing more than far-away draft picks. After the transaction, Price was paired with Aebischer and after being part of what former coach Guy Carbonneau referred to as a ‘happy problem’, meaning that both goalies were good enough to be starters, Price ended up outplaying Aebischer who soon after found himself without a job in the National Hockey League. Enter Halak, and the rest, as they say, is history. Unfortunately, so is he.
Sink Or Swim
In February of this year, Bob Gainey resigned from his office as general manager of the Canadiens, citing personal reasons such as the want of more time with his family. This, however, didn’t deter him from keeping several positions within the organisation including that of advisor to the current GM, Pierre Gauthier.
Now Gauthier, much like his predecessor, has taken his stand and declared Carey Price to be the man to hold the fort during what many hope to be the next golden era in Montreal hockey. Whether Gainey did resign or was asked to step down as a result of the team’s repeated failures during both the regular season and the early stages of the Stanley Cup playoffs is debatable but Gauthier is already walking a fine line in his young tenure as general manager.
He inherited a line-up from Gainey and now shapes it to his whim. The decision to stand by Gainey’s vision in having Carey Price carrying the torch might very well be what will make him or break him as general manager. Halak’s departure from the hockey club raised something of an uproar in the city. The fans want to win and want to win now. The team was winning. Montreal had its hero and now he is gone. The pressure is on Carey Price and most definitely, Pierre Gauthier.
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