MONTREAL, QC — Mention the name Carey Price to a group of Habs fans. More often than not, you will get either an angry response, or one filled with anxiety.
Is it deserved? Really?
I honestly think it’s dumb for fans to boo Zdeno Chara every time he touches the puck, but I get it. He is a nasty opponent from a hated rival.
Imagine what would happen if Eric Lindros’ photo was flashed on the Bell Centre scoreboard. Again, I probably wouldn’t be joining in but I understand the sentiment.
However, all the venom directed at Carey Price just doesn’t make sense to me. It’s irrational.
Some say Price is coming off a bad season. Oh really?
Price was the Molson Cup winner for the months of October and November and ended the season as the runner-up to Jaroslav Halak. I realize that Molson Cup points aren’t a be-all and end-all indicator, but with the Montreal media so infatuated with Halak, how did Price rank second on the team if he had such a bad season?
If goal support is leveled, the won-loss records of Price and Halak are very similar. There are many other measures of performance that I have written about before. But I’m told I am a Price-apologist.
Have you heard the one that Price has accomplished nothing in the NHL? Again, oh really? Perhaps a review of his record and a comparison to others at the same age would be enlightening.
But for those who don’t have the time to scour the stats book, let me recommend an excellent article by Arpon Basu. Another Price-apologist apparently.
Or perhaps there is something to the fact that Price is a very good goaltender. Bob Gainey recognizes it. Pierre Gauthier agrees. And their opinion is consistent with the majority of general managers in the NHL.
I have articulated my reasons for being confident in Price on these pages in the past. Is it time for another to calm the masses? The so-called debate is truly getting tiring.
Instead, take a look at Arpon’s piece. He makes a strong argument. If the Price-haters don’t change their opinion after reading it, I respectfully suggest that the issue isn’t being approached with an open mind.
I hope that you will be wearing your Alex Auld jersey with pride.
As always, I would be pleased to hear your comments.