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5 Reasons Carey Price Will Win The Hart Trophy

By Lissa Albert |
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Dec 20, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; A young hockey fan cheers with Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price (31) after the game against Ottawa Senators at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports

Montreal Canadiens‘ Carey Price was named a finalist for the Hart Trophy yesterday, adding to his nomination for the Vezina just a few days ago.

There’s no question he will win the Vezina. I don’t believe there is a person in existence who knows hockey, knows the season, and knows Carey Price’s year who thinks otherwise.

But why the Hart?

The Hart Trophy, as defined by the Hockey Hall of Fame, is “presented to the most valuable player in the National Hockey League during the regular season.” The trophy is not typically awarded to goaltenders; that has only happened a total of 7 times, to 6 different goalies (Buffalo’s Dominic Hasek won it twice).

The last time it was awarded to a goalie was, ironically, when the Canadiens’ Jose Theodore won it in 2002.

Price shares the nomination with power forwards Alex Ovechkin and John Tavares. One might look at the positions these men play and, as Price is the only goaltender, give him the edge. While that’s certainly true, it likely isn’t among the considerations of the members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association who vote every year.

Tavares and Ovechkin both wear the “C” for their teams. The Habs have four Alternates this year, having lost their previous captain, Brian Gionta, before the 2014-15 season began. And though NHL rules state no goaltender can wear the “C” – for logical reasons – it is well known that were it possible, the easy choice for that honor would be Carey Price.

As it is, he is a natural leader, on the ice and in the room. It is well known that his calm, his sense of confidence and his experience are the team’s backbone, and that he is that ersatz Captain even though he will never wear it officially. I’m sure it doesn’t matter to him. His humility is flawless.

But he exhibits that leadership, and thus is very much in place with his two co-nominees, both of whom captain their respective teams.

There is only one trophy given out exclusively to goaltenders. Every other trophy is – almost always – handed out to skaters, even if goaltenders are nominated.

As history shows, goalies are left out of the other trophy categories – that is, unless a goalie comes along who just cannot be ignored as having earned the honor of Most Valuable Player in the NHL.

That man, this season, is Carey Price. And here are the reasons I believe he will be named the winner not only of the Vezina, but of the Hart Trophy as well.

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5. Price’s team finished second in the NHL.

The Washington Capitals and the New York Islanders finished ninth and tenth, respectively. While standings are important, they are most important when superiority is established.

Apr 2, 2015; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price (31) makes a save against the Washington Capitals during the first period at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

The Canadiens achieved, and maintained, playoff status throughout the season, while the other two teams made their ways up in the ranking. And yes, while Washington and the Islanders both finished significantly higher than Montreal in goals scored, Price was almost solely responsible for his team’s successes throughout the season, whereas Ovechkin and Tavares share the credit with everyone else on their bench.

4. Carey Price: Record Breaker

Hot off the 2014 Olympics where he helped his team win the gold medal – broke, and set, franchise records in 2014-2015. Here is the list:

  • Most games won by a franchise goalie: 44. Previous record holders were hockey greats Jacques Plante, and Ken Dryden – both of whom achieved 42 games won (Plante having done it twice).
    • This was also a League high.
  • Price set a new record for straight road wins, having registered 10 wins this season, over the previously held 8 wins – set in 1968-69 by Rogatien Vachon.
  • In Game 6 of Round 1, Price faced 43 shots, and posted a shutout. This broke Ken Dryden’s previous record of 37 shots without a goal allowed, set in 1975

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

And as he continues into the playoffs, more records may yet be his to achieve.

While Ovechkin had a stellar season, with 53 goals, and was instrumental in helping his team make the playoffs, and Tavares is just a consistently strong player who finished with an incredible 86 points, there are still other reasons to make the case for Price.

3. Stolen Games

Price literally stole games that were as good as lost, throughout the season – including one against the New York Islanders in March. When the team has been down in the 3rd period – on a regular basis, starting from the season’s first week – it has been Price’s acrobatics that helped save goals so that his teammates could recover and generate offense.

When the team was a goal away from a loss, or hanging onto a one-goal lead, Price was the one who was credited with helping the Canadiens win.

Dec 29, 2014; Raleigh, NC, USA; Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price (31) comes out of the locker room before the game against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. The Canadiens defeated the Hurricanes 3-1. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

With his incredible sense of timing, his eye-opening flexibility, his reflexes that defied logic and, as has been described so often, his “standing on his head” to save pucks from going into the net, Carey Price has a highlight reel from 2014-15 that is rich with shining moments from all the games he played.

It was he who not only stole games, but attention from even the results of the game. Win or lose, the story of the game was always how well he had done. But because of his talent, which doesn’t come along every year in hockey, his team benefitted from moving up in the standings – and staying there.

(From that game against the Islanders – a miraculous acrobatics act by Price)

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2. Plays 60+ Minutes

Skaters are key to any game. Without goals scored, there is no win. No ties in the NHL means that at least one goal has to be scored in order for there to be a conclusion to any match. Therefore, goal scorers are crucial to any game, any team.

But Carey Price is the only one of the Hart Trophy nominees who played all 60 minutes – or more – of every game, remaining on the ice (unless he was pulled) throughout. Some might argue that he didn’t score goals, and therefore can’t be credited with the team’s success.

If you watched Canadiens’ games, and saw – as outlined in my previous point – how well he defended his net, preventing the other teams from going ahead, it is very clear that without his talent, the goal scoring is moot.

Price also controls the pace of the game. Often, when it’s been a frenzied shift or two, when he sees that his teammates might need a breather, he will choose to freeze the puck instead of play it to another Canadien. That helps his teammates to regroup, and has been especially helpful when on the road and line changes are impossible or not allowed at the moment.

Feb 8, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Montreal Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban (76) celebrates with goalie Carey Price (31) after defeating the Boston Bruins 3-1 at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

On any team with a stellar goaltender, it is well known that his heroics – no shifts taken, no breaks other than the television time-outs and intermissions – are a full-game accomplishment that have been responsible for many a win.

The Habs have been criticized for leaning on their goaltender too much. The shot differential for the season (-1.7) is proof that yes, Price has been the hardest-working player on the team. However, with a goalie like Carey Price, who can blame the team for their confidence? And being on the ice from opening puck drop to final buzzer makes him the most-used player as compared to his co-nominees.

1. His Demeanor

Carey Price, it’s been said, has ice water in his veins. His demeanor on the ice is remarkable. He is known as cool-hand Carey. Chilled for action. His calm confident play not only helps him to perform the way he does, it is instrumental in helping his teammates.

(Often posted during the seasons – both the regular, and post-season – this graphic reflects Carey Price’s well-known calm)

Watch him pluck a puck right out of the air, stand and calmly give it to the referee. Or watch him be put to the test, laterally, outside the crease, and back again, then just shake his head and drink from his water bottle.

Or the famous wink, in 2011, after blocking a shot from David Krejci, when Price was caught on camera winking at then-teammate Brent Sopel. The video went viral and was just a glimpse at the delightful confidence of this goaltender.

But above and beyond his on-the-ice deameanor, about which much has been written, his off-ice personality is exceptional. Try and find an interview in which Price does not deflect from the compliments he receives.

Scott Oake, of CBC – more than once – has said to Price, “it’s awfully hard to get you to talk about yourself.” I’ve seen him interview Price this year and say those very words, almost verbatim every time. Here he is, in an interview after the Habs won Game 7 in Boston last season, once again facing the humility of Carey Price:

This is just a typical interview for Price, who never takes the credit for his wins, but always praises his teammates.

Don’t think this goes unnoticed, especially by the writers who will ultimately vote on the winner of this trophy.

I would be hard pressed to think that Price isn’t the favorite to win. I’m not alone, either. James Mirtle, of the Globe and Mail (and notably, a Toronto Maple Leafs writer) stated – in March – that Price should be the favorite for the Hart.

This is not the only article the Globe has written in favor of Price as a Hart winner. Two writers were asked their predictions for all the trophies this year; the two categories in which both writers were in sync were Vezina, and Hart – both choosing Carey Price.

We already know the Vezina will be inscribed with Carey Price’s name. I am confident the Hart will as well.

Teammate PK Subban has another idea:

How about it, Habs fans?

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