Carey Price didn’t hand out empty praise when he talked about the Canadiens’ young goaltenders. He zeroed in on what makes Jakub Dobes different, and it’s the kind of trait that matters in Montreal.
In an interview with the NHL’s official website, Price said Dobes has the kind of edge you can’t manufacture. He pointed to a goalie who welcomes pressure, doesn’t shrink from the moment, and keeps coming when things get rough. In his view, that sort of swagger has to be natural.
That matters in a market like Montreal, where a goaltender can get swallowed up fast if the personality isn’t there. Price knows the weight of that stage better than most after years under the microscope.
The former Canadiens star also touched on Jacob Fowler, and the comparison came from a much different place. Price said, "Kind of reminds me more of myself, a little more reserved. He plays a very quiet game like I did," Price said.
Dobes, though, is the one drawing the sharper spotlight. Montreal finished 48-24-10 for 106 points last season, and the young goaltending group helped do its part. Veteran Samuel Montembeault still sits ahead of Dobes for now, but Price’s comments suggest the kind of mentality that can help a young goalie climb.
That kind of endorsement from Carey Price carries real weight. For a goalie trying to earn more ice time, it can matter.
Now Dobes has to turn that little “grrr” into something bigger: a full-time starting job.
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