It’s unclear what Carey Price’s future will be, but if he were to hang up his leggings, winning the Bill Masterton Trophy is a great way to come full circle on a great career. Is this his last trophy? Is it his swan song?
As I said before, I think winning a trophy after playing only five games is too little and I would have preferred Price to be nominated next season. However, it is possible that there will be no next campaign in his case. Obtaining the Masterton is therefore perhaps another clue that brings him closer to retirement.
I am still happy for him, because he has gone through many hardships and I am sure he will cherish this honor. This trophy will not change anything to a possible selection to the Hall of Fame, but from a human point of view, it means a lot. It shows his perseverance after difficult times.
Having won it myself following the death of my son, I can tell you that I am extremely proud of my Masterton and that it holds a big place in my heart, as much, if not more, than my Hart trophies and Vezina.
I’m sure Canadiens fans are also happy for Price, but we’re mostly waiting for an answer to the big question. Will he return to the game, yes or no?
There is nothing reassuring in all that we have seen, read or heard in recent months. He consulted doctors in Montreal, New York and Pittsburgh and he gave himself every chance to make the best decision. Whatever it is, it will not be taken lightly.
If two or three doctors agree to advise him to retire, he will have no regrets. I am sure he would like to return to the game and that he still gives himself time to make the right choice, but it seems to me that we are rolling out the carpet that will lead him to the exit.
Nice way to end
I retired following an injury, but I didn’t know it was over at the time. To have known it in advance, I would have done like Price. I would have invited my whole family to my last game to take some nice pictures, even if I hadn’t played. I would have liked to end this way.
I imagine that the general manager of the CH, Kent Hughes, will have more details before July 1 and that he will know if he should find another experienced goalkeeper or not.
The good news is that Cayden Primeau is having a great playoff run with the Laval Rocket and he seems to have moved on to another level. It’s reassuring and it gives Hughes another option. Primeau has certainly just put out a fire. With Jake Allen in good health, Samuel Montembeault who finished the season well and Primeau who is gaining ground, Hughes can breathe while waiting to know what to expect with Price.
Martin St-Louis
I hastened to text and congratulate my friend Martin St-Louis, who signed a three-year contract as head coach of the Canadiens.
Gone is the term “acting”, and now the fun begins. It’s a bit like going from number two goalkeeper to number one and in Montreal, the two most prominent men are obviously the coach and the number one goalkeeper.
St. Louis turned things around in a lost cause last season, but the pressure will be different next season. That said, I am convinced that he has everything it takes to succeed. It remains to be seen what sort of training he will have on hand.
– Interview by Gilles Moffet
Nice course for the Rangers
The surprising New York Rangers took a 2-0 series lead against the Tampa Bay Lightning after knocking out the fearsome Carolina Hurricanes in Game 7. Floridians bounced back strong at home in Game 3, however, and expect Jon Cooper’s squad to be unleashed tonight with the goal of leveling the series in front of their fans. There are many similarities between the two teams, including the draft success and the presence of two top Russian goalkeepers in Igor Shesterkin on the one hand and Andrei Vasilevskiy on the other. There is an element that plays in favor of the Lightning, it is experience. You can’t buy it and you can’t get it in the draft. Shesterkin will clearly have to steal the game tonight. He can’t afford a single bad goal, like Nikita Kucherov’s on Sunday.
bad goals
Speaking of bad goals, Edmonton Oilers goaltender Mike Smith allowed the Colorado Avalanche a few, but in the end, the Oilers were handcuffed by a superior team. The two-headed monster of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl can’t seem to stand out and I’m okay with Evander Kane’s suspension. The Oilers have solved a big problem by winning two playoff series, but they will have to find a real number one goaltender to hope to go further.
Zero tolerance
I don’t remember seeing three goalie interference penalties in one game and that’s what happened Sunday in Tampa, giving the Rangers a 2-0 lead. later. I know that some goalkeepers are good at dramatizing contact, like Ben Bishop, for example, but you absolutely have to protect them. It must be zero tolerance. The odds of winning a streak without its number one goaltender are greatly reduced. Imagine Brian Elliott in place of Andrei Vasilevskiy at the Lightning? We are no longer talking about the same team.
