By Steve Farnham, Associate Editor, All Habs Hockey Magazine

MONTREAL, QC. – The next time you complain about your job, just tell yourself that at least you’re not the starting goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens.

Carey Price knows all about this position and the highs and lows that come with it, he’s been under the microscope ever since he was drafted in the first round (fifth overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Canadiens. At only 18 years of age, already people were proclaiming him as the next Patrick Roy – or worse – the team’s saviour. A hero was born.

Immense pressure was put on the shoulders of a young man starting his professional NHL career in one of the most demanding sports markets that exists, but it comes with the territory. Now six seasons into his NHL career, the pressure has not necessarily gotten any easier to deal with for Carey Price, or at least that’s the impression he left many people with following his post playoff elimination press conference this past Saturday.

“That’s one thing I miss,” … “just being anonymous. It’s tough to do that here. It’s impossible. I don’t even go to the grocery store anymore. I hardly do anything anymore. I’m like a hobbit in a hole.” – Carey Price

In Montreal, this type of statement can be the equivalent of dropping three pints of blood into an abyss of shark infested waters. Artistic journalists were quick to draw pretty conclusions. For some, it was clear that Price was unable to handle the pressure in Montreal and that the Habs should consider trading him.

Back the truck up for a second here. Did we just watch the same interview? I had to go watch it again.

I watched that interview not once, not twice, but seven times (Maybe it was only five, I really don’t know). I felt like a poker player trying to read my opponent across the table. I needed to wrap my head around all of Price’s comments because of all the attention they had drawn.

The first few times I watched, I felt that he appeared disappointed, which I’m guessing is probably normal when your team’s just been eliminated from the NHL playoffs (Don’t know, never been.) He looked to me like he would want to be able to please the entire fan base but knows he can’t. He looked to me like someone who’s tired of dealing with the criticism and scrutiny surrounding his performances.

“Am I reading too much into this?” I asked myself. I went back and watched again. I also watched older Carey Price interviews to compare his comments and body language.

Now, I feel like his responses were tongue- in-cheek more than that of a sad puppy, as if he was just playing along with the media who at times appeared to be trying to corner him into fumbling a headline quote. His tone and body language were actually not that much different than a post-game interview following a victory. That’s just how he is. That’s Carey. That’s what I told myself.

One thing I do believe is that unlike teammate P.K. Subban who craves media attention and camera time, Price is more reserved, to himself and I can see how some of his comments can be misinterpreted. After all, this is Montreal.

For those who believe he can’t handle the pressure in Montreal, I disagree.

In 2010-11, Price finished the season with:

• Wins: 38
• Save Percentage: 0.923
• Goals Against Average: 2.35
• Shutouts: 8

All career highs.

Still only 23 years of age at the time, he then carried the Canadiens against the Boston Bruins (who had finished third in the conference) all the way to the seventh game of the first round before the Habs were eliminated. (The Bruins would go on to win the Stanley Cup.) He can succeed with the Montreal Canadiens; he’s shown it before.

Even this season, with less than three weeks left, Bob McKenzie polled 25 NHL coaches for which goaltender they would award the Vezina Trophy to, awarded each year to the best goaltender in the regular season. Price topped the survey as the Eastern conference nominee.  Sure, the end of the season fishtailed and Price himself knows he could have been better, but I feel like some people are missing the forest for the trees.

I’ve often felt that Price doesn’t receive the credit he deserves when he’s playing well and gets overly criticized when he’s not playing so well. He’ll be praised for his heroics one game, but it will quickly be forgotten the next should he give up a bad goal. He’s a hero, a zero, and never far from both.

I hope Carey Price can remain happy in Montreal for this contract to not be his last because after all, would you want to play/work somewhere where you aren’t happy? Obviously not. I say this because how you feel about your job (and this applies in any workplace) will directly affect your performance and results. It’s often been said that a goaltender’s game is 80 per cent mental and 20 per cent physical (Sometimes the percentages vary) and Price needs to remain happy in order to be able to continue to be able to deal with the pressure and attention of playing in Montreal, both positive and negative.

“Any type of high-profile job, there’s gonna be a lot of scrutiny. There’s gonna be a lot of people unhappy. I’ve just kind of learned to accept that and just kind of let it roll off my shoulders.” – Carey Price

As much attention as some of his previous comments received, the one that I have decided to retain as most important is the following:

“I honestly believe I can win a Stanley Cup.” … “In order to do that, I need to reach another level. So I’m going to have to figure out what I need to do to get to that level.”

That is an honest and accurate statement, and I believe that it’s only a matter of time before we see all of Carey Price’s potential truly develop.

At the same time, some people will always think he’s a hero, some will always think he’s a zero and no matter his performances and achievements, he’ll never be far from both. Welcome to Montreal.

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