Two seasons ago, Carey Price behaved like a rock star. Now he wants to be treated like one and The Habs have only themselves to blame.
Last season – the management of The Montreal Canadiens sent mixed signals to their fifth overall draft pick in 2005.If you are an observer of body language – you may have noticed Les Habitants informed Price that he was not good enough to be a number one goalie for the squad but verbally they never anointed Price or Jaroslav Halak as the number one. Then in a move more confusing to Price than trying to figure out which Marx brother is the ugliest – they turn around and trade Halak and in doing so ,motioned to Carey that he is indeed their go – to guy. Mr. Price must feel like a character in one of his precious Ccuntry and Western records played in reverse – he got his dog back, house back and most importantly – his job back. Now, can he get his MoJo back?
The writing is there and Price has full control of the chalk as he scribbles the amount due at the bottom of the past two seasons’ graffiti filled wall. He is in control because according to The Habs – Price is better than the 15 million dollar contract that Halak signed with The St. Louis Blues over the next four years. Halak will earn 3. 75 million the upcoming season and Price is using these stats to his full advantage. Carey ‘ The Chosen One’ Price had lesser numbers than Halak in all catgeories – his G.A.A was 2.77 compared to Halak’s 2. 40 average and Price’s save percentage of a 9.12 dimmed next to Halak’s 9.24. during the regular season.The play – offs alone would have made it easy for The Habs to ink Price if they had not dealt Halak before Carey pulled out his pen and sat down. A 3. 56 goals against average and a less than stellar .890 save percentage doesn’t exactly tip the scales in your favor when negotiating your first contract based on NHL stats.Nor does his less than stellar play at the beginning of the 2009 season and before that – his four strikes your out performance against The Bruins in the first round of the 2009 play -offs.
To be a fly on the wall during the current negotiation process would make the entire staff on TMZ envious. Back and forth they must go…’Well Carey,’ Gauthier must say , ‘Your off ice behavior two seasons ago gave The Canadiens organization a black eye , not to mention all those photos on the internet!’
‘You traded Halak and kept me…’ Says Price.’
‘Halak is making 3.75 million this season so based upon yours and his stats last year – I am offering you two million for one year!’ says Gauthier.
‘Halak signed for four years and if you add my performance from my rookie season, Jaroslav and I are very close statistically. I want three million a year for two years.’Replies Price with his agent nearby of course…
‘What about that video taken with you and Laraque clowning around after a play – off loss in Boston? Halak is a more focused young man than you.’
‘You traded Halak and kept me…’ Says Price.’
Back and forth it must go with Price and his agent always having the upper hand.Mrs. Gauthier must have to call a contractor every morning after her husband leaves for work to fill in all the holes that Pierre punches into the wall each night after negotiations fail. Neighbors swear that the words ‘Bob Gainey’ can be heard moments before the thud of a fist hitting gyproc.
Years ago a story surfaced about the rock group Van Halen demanding that all of the brown M and M’s be removed from the mounds of the candy that were to be delivered backstage before and after every concert. Trading Halak are those brown M and M’s and now Gauthier, The Promoter of the second most successful sports franchise of all time must find a way to remove them or discover a new band who are just anxious to get a good gig.Where’s George Steinbrenner when you need him…?