Can Carey Price Break Jacques Plante’s Record For Most Wins In Montreal Canadiens History?

The Montreal Canadiens have a long, rich history and much of that has to do with the fantastic goaltenders they have employed dating back over a hundred years.

From Georges Vezina who the top goaltender award is still named after, to George Hainsworth‘s 22 shutouts in the 1928-29 season, to Jacques Plante, Ken Dryden and Patrick Roy, it seems the Habs have always had a legendary netminder between the pipes.

When recalling the greatest goaltenders in the history of the Habs, current Canadiens puck stopper Carey Price’s name is not near the top of the list, but he appears to be well on his way to taking over the all time wins record among Habs goaltenders.

Oct 18, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens goalie

(31) makes a save against Colorado Avalanche during the first period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports

Plante currently has the most wins by a Canadiens goalie with 314, just ahead of Roy who had 289 with the Habs, and Dryden who won 258 times in just 397 games. Not far down the list, in fact fifth on the Habs all time wins list is where you will find Carey Price, with 184. With 25 more wins this season, Price will usurp Bill Durnan for fourth on the illustrious list.

To become the winningest goaltender in Habs history, Price will need 131 more victories in a Habs sweater. Since taking over the number one role in Montreal in the 2010-11 season, Price has averaged 32 wins per year in the three full seasons since the Jaroslav Halak trade.

If he can continue that pace, he would be in line to take over the all time wins list in Montreal early in the 2018-2019 season. Price will be just 31 at that time, so it seems like a no brainer he will be the winningest goalie in Habs history long before he retires.

Sep 25, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price (31) stretches before the second period against Colorado Avalanche at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports

However, several factors will play into this actually occurring. First of all, Price has finished the last three Habs seasons injured, and if he can’t stay healthy it will be tough for him to continue piling up wins.

The last time it seemed like a Habs goaltender was sure to pass Plante, Roy had an infamous falling out with coaching and management and demanded a trade out of town, just 25 wins shy of becoming the team leader. It is unlikely Price has a similar meltdown, but it just goes to show that anything can happen in the hockey world.

Another thing to consider is that Price’s contract is set to expire at the end of the 2017-2018 season. If he continues his past performance, (and so does the team), Price will be around 300 wins, or 15 shy of the all time record when his current contract runs out.

Oct 16, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Canadiens former goalie

hands the torch to Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price (31) before the game between the Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

At that time, it seems very likely that the Habs will resign him, but contract squabbles have led to many players leaving town in the history of hockey. Also, what if Zach Fucale is pushing for starts at the time, and the Habs have to make a decision between a 30 year old Price and a 22 year old Fucale?

There are a lot of things to play out here, and a lot will have to go right in the future for Carey Price and the Montreal Canadiens if Price is going to win 131 more games with this team. It doesn’t mean Price is the greatest goaltender in the history of the game, but topping the list of wins in Montreal would be an incredible career accomplishment.

Price will never win the six Vezina Trophy’s that Jacques Plante won, and he likely won’t win a pair of Conn Smythe Trophy’s like Patrick Roy did in Montreal. Price also won’t retire winning 65 percent of the games he’s played in like Ken Dryden.

However, hockey is all about winning, and when all is said and done, Carey Price will likely win more games in a Montreal Canadiens sweater than any other goaltender in their incredible history.