Sometimes a player’s real value shows up long after the saves stop coming. That’s the feeling around Carey Price in Montreal, where comments from Phillip Danault, Kaiden Guhle and head coach Martin St. Louis made clear he was never just another elite goaltender in a Canadiens sweater.
Danault talked about what it meant to play in Montreal and the kind of imprint Price left on the organization. He said he would never be Carey Price, but that players still want to leave their own mark. That idea says plenty about how Price was viewed inside the room: not simply as a star, but as someone others could measure themselves against.
St. Louis added his own take on Price’s presence, calling him a quiet, confident presence.
He didn’t have to put on a show. His personality and his game matched, and that combination gave the players in front of him confidence.
That kind of effect goes beyond the box score. It’s something a goaltender earns by being steady, not just by piling up saves.
The case for Price in the Hockey Hall of Fame starts with the hardware. In 2015, he won the Hart Trophy, the Vezina Trophy, the Ted Lindsay Award and the Jennings Trophy. He also helped Canada win Olympic gold in 2014 and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
But his story in Montreal was about more than awards. He carried the expectations of a hockey-mad city for years, and in a place like Montreal, that means something. The pressure is constant when you’re the last line of defence, and Price gave fans a reason to feel like their team had a chance every night.
His career didn’t end the way anyone would have wanted. Injuries took away some of the years he might otherwise have played.
Still, a Hall of Fame résumé isn’t only about longevity. It’s about how good a player was, what he achieved and what he meant to the sport.
On those terms, Carey Price belongs in the Hockey Hall of Fame. And in Montreal, his place in Canadiens history already feels settled.
In Other News...
Canadiens Suddenly Face A Bigger Concern Ahead Of Bruins Trip
Nick Suzuki and Jake Evans were both absent from Canadiens practice Wednesday, with the team classifying the missed session as maintenance following the clubs most recent game. Montreal confirmed the two forwards were not on the ice but did not offer any further detail, leaving the group to sort through a little more uncertainty as it prepares for a trip to Boston.
Suzukis status is the more notable concern because he briefly left Tuesdays game before returning and scoring Montreals only goal, while Evans had already been managing discomfort since Monday. For a team heading into a divisional matchup with the Bruins, any question about the availability of two important centers is worth watching closely, especially with no immediate update on whether either will be ready to go. [Read more 🡒]
Cole Caufield Just Sparked A Bigger Canadiens Debate Than The Loss
Cole Caufield turned a frustrating night into a larger conversation for the Canadiens after Montreals overtime loss to Minnesota, shifting the focus from the result to how NHL games are being officiated. The forward took aim at the way referees handle controversial calls, adding another layer to a game that already left the Canadiens with plenty to sort through.
What made his comments resonate was the broader point behind them: Caufield wants more accountability from officials and believes they should be able to explain what they saw instead of simply signaling a penalty and moving on. For a Canadiens team still chasing consistency, it is the kind of postgame critique that can linger well beyond one loss, especially when it taps into a league-wide debate about transparency on the ice. [Read more 🡒]
Nick Suzuki Scare Had Canadiens Fans Holding Their Breath
Nick Suzuki gave Canadiens fans a scare in the third period, leaving the game briefly before returning to the ice and settling things down in a hurry. Montreals captain has been a central part of the clubs offense all season, appearing in 12 of the teams 18 games and continuing to drive play at the top of the lineup.
The good news for Montreal is that the concern did not linger long after the final whistle, with the team indicating Suzuki is fine after his short absence. Even so, any moment like that tends to tighten the mood around a team that leans so heavily on its top center, especially when he has been one of the most important contributors to the Canadiens attack. [Read more 🡒]