Montreal Canadiens: Awards, Draft, Home Opener And More

Jun 23, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price talks to media during a press conference in advance of the 2015 NHL Awards at MGM Grand. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Here is what’s going on with the Montreal Canadiens this week:

Tonight, the NHL Awards take place in Las Vegas. Canadiens nominated are Carey Price and P.K. Subban.

P.K. is a finalist for the Norris Trophy, second time in 3 seasons. Here are my reasons for why he should receive the award over his co-finalists, Drew Doughty and Erik Karlsson.

It should be noted that not only is he up for an award, Subban will be hosting the Samsung NHL Social Lounge, which includes interviews backstage and social media duties.

What better player could they have chosen but the dynamic, articulate, poised P.K.? It is going to be fun, so tune in on social media as well. I’ll be tweeting too, so follow our Twitter account at A Winning Habit.

Interviewed in Las Vegas prior to the Awards ceremony, Subban was asked if he’d like to eventually host the NHL Awards.

"I’d much rather be winning a Stanley Cup every year or coming here to be a nominee of some award rather than coming here to host it every year or interviewing players who have won awards."

Who wouldn’t, right?

He continued, stating that he is honored to be a part of the show and looks forward to doing so in ways that do not take away from the winners or the ceremony itself. He truly continues to impress, as a human being on and off the ice.

Carey Price, on the other hand, is pretty much a shoo-in in the categories he’s been nominated.  No one is arguing that he will win the Vezina for Best Goaltender in the League this season. He is also up for the Hart Trophy, and I’ve given my reasons for why he should win that as well.

Also on the list of his nominations is the Ted Lindsay Award. Voted on by members of the NHL Players Association (in other words, peers), this is the award given to the most outstanding player in the regular season. Along with Price are finalists Alex Ovechkin and Jamie Benn.

Now, given that Ovechkin is also a finalist for the Hart Trophy, will he get the Lindsay? Or will it go to Jamie Benn, who had a fantastic season?

Jamie Benn scored a second hat trick this season, on the final night of regular-season play. He led the league in points and received the Art Ross trophy for that accomplishment. He is definitely a force to be reckoned with, and there’s no doubt he’s a good choice for the trophy.

Price is the first goalie to be nominated for the Lindsay Award since Henrik Lundqvist in 2011-12 (who did not receive it that year).

Of course, I’m biased and would love to see Carey Price cart off all 3 awards for which he has been nominated. I believe, with his Hart Trophy nomination and likely win, he has already proven that he has been an outstanding player this season.

Will his peers think the same? One writer believes they will, stating “consider all of the voters who failed to solve Price this season.”

Speaking to reporters, Carey Price illustrated why he is such an admirable player. Though he is nominated for – and likely winner of – three awards in Vegas, he has one goal:

"It’s coming together. It’s always been a process. A lot of goaltenders my age have already had a lot of success. I feel like my career is progressing in the right direction, but I’m still looking for what I ultimately want."

He is, of course, discussing the Stanley Cup. Astonishing to think, he sincerely holds himself responsible for the Habs failing to reach the next rounds of competition in playoffs. His humility is as outstanding as his on-ice performance, and he is as earnest about this statement as he sounds.

"When you don’t win there’s more you can do. As a bigger part of this team, I feel like that’s on me. I’ve got to be that much better."

Every player interviewed by the media in Las Vegas had only admiration and respect for Price (another reason I believe they were inclined to vote him the Ted Lindsay recipient as well).

The Awards air tonight, June 24, from Las Vegas. The presentations will be broadcast on Sportsnet, at 7 p.m. ET. The order of awards is found here and the Ted Lindsay is first, so tune in early!

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