► A well-deserved summer break for Price
- Having to be the one player who carried the Canadiens game-by-game last season was not only physically taxing but a mental burden as well. This off-season, Carey Price, is not only training for the new hockey year, he is spending the summer enjoying the time off while reflecting on his extraordinary season.
- Price told the Tri-City Herald, “It all happened pretty quickly. I’m just soaking it all in and enjoying it. It was definitely one of the more enjoyable seasons that I’ve ever had. Not only with the success that we had, but we had a fun group of guys to go to the rink and hang out with every day.”
- The year culminated with a trophy haul that included the Vezina, Jennings, Lindsay and Hart trophies. Price singled out one of the awards as the most special saying, “They say the Hart is the most prestigious, but in my opinion, the Ted Lindsay is the big one. It was voted on by my fellow players and peers — guys that I compete against on a daily basis. That one means a lot to me.”
- Carey and Angela enjoyed a trip to Italy earlier in the summer and have a rafting trip in Oregon scheduled for August. But, as we have been reporting, a good deal of Price’s time this summer has been devoted to his work with charities. He talked about their importance, “We are in a really good position to give back to our communities. These organizations that I’m associated with do a really good job of making me look good. It’s really important that these kids do well in school, and the first step to that is being alert and being well fed. It’s a fact kids perform better when they are well nourished going into the day.”
https://twitter.com/AngelaPrice24/status/625471936227753984
► Habs OHL prospects
- There’s often a lot of unwarranted griping about the Canadiens not scouting players in their own backyard. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Montreal has devoted a significant portion of their scouting staff to the QMJHL and go out of their way to invite undrafted Q players to camps.
- The same can’t be said for the best development league in junior hockey, the OHL. Until recent years, Canadiens development camps have run without the presence of an OHL draft pick. But perhaps things are changing, albeit slowly. According to the OHL Prospects blog, “The Canadiens have a lot to be excited about in their minimal OHL player pool.”
- On Mike McCarron, author Brock Otten writes, “What a difference a year makes. Honestly, McCarron couldn’t have transformed himself any more than he did in 2014/2015. [..] This year, he was a difference maker on a Memorial Cup Championship team.”
- OHL Prospects summarizes McCarron’s rapid development: “In London he was able to establish himself as an offensive force, a guy who can drive the net, or finish off plays in close. With his size and hands in front, he was nearly impossible for OHL defenders to tie up. His shot also proved to be a massive weapon and it’s strength profiles him more as a goal scorer at the next level than people give him credit for. In Oshawa, he was asked to play a shutdown role where he had to kill penalties, take important face-offs, and put pressure on the top lines of the opposition. His tale of two seasons showcases how well rounded of a player he has become.”
- The blog also included an assessment of Jeremiah Addison, drafted in June in the seventh round (207th overall) from the Ottawa 67’s.
- On Addison, Otten writes, “Addison had a very quietly effective season, finishing strong with a terrific playoff performance. He plays a lot bigger than his size (~6’0) and is a true power forward. He excels when driving the net, with and without the puck, and is slowly learning how to read defences to get himself good scoring chances. As a complimentary offensive player, he was very valuable to Ottawa. He can also kill penalties and is a strong presence at both ends of the ice.”
► Briere ready for retirement?
- With August just around the corner free agent centre Danny Briere remains without a contract for next season. About to turn 38 years of age, the former Canadien is reported to be considering retirement struggling with the commitment to prepare for another season.
- Speaking with ESPN’s Scott Burnside, Briere said, “That’s kind of the big question: Can I imagine committing to it? If I decide to play, I have to commit to full out training. I’m working out and I’m staying in good shape as of right now. But if I decide to play, I’ve got about two months left to really take it to the next level to be ready for next season.”
- If he does sign for another season, Briere would like to play in the northeast to be close to his home and family in New Jersey.
► IceCaps jerseys
- The Canadiens new AHL affiliate, the St. John’s IceCaps will unveil their new jerseys on Wednesday morning.
- No hints on what to expect but they will include the logo released at the end of May.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: We'll be unveiling our new jerseys tomorrow at 10:45 AM. Join us on @periscopeco for the reveal! #WeStandTogether
— St. John's IceCaps (@IceCapsAHL) July 28, 2015
► Hockey Scholar Program
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