A Winning Habit
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Possible NHL Award Nominees for the Montreal Canadiens in the Future

By Omar L

MONTREAL, QC - NOVEMBER 01: Jesperi Kotkaniemi #15 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates a victory with goaltender Carey Price #31 against the Washington Capitals during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on November 1, 2018 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Washington Capitals 6-4. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - NOVEMBER 01: Jesperi Kotkaniemi #15 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates a victory with goaltender Carey Price #31 against the Washington Capitals during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on November 1, 2018 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Washington Capitals 6-4. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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Montreal Canadiens
LAS VEGAS, NV – JUNE 24: Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

The Montreal Canadiens may not have many players in their organization up for awards now, but it’s possible that could change down the line.

Carey Price was the last member of the Montreal Canadiens to win big at the NHL Awards in 2015. Fans all remember that year as the ‘Legendary Year’ where Price couldn’t be beaten. He left Las Vegas that June with the Hart, Vezina, Ted Lindsay and William M. Jennings under his arm.

Before Price, P.K. Subban won the Norris Trophy being recognized as the league’s best defenceman in 2013 while Max Pacioretty won the Bill Masterton in 2011.

It hasn’t been as successful for the other awards. Guy Lafleur was the last Habs player to win the Art Ross in 1978 with a 132-point season. Ken Dryden earned recognition for being the top rookie of the 1971-72 season, while Guy Carbonneau took the Selke in 1992. The list goes on, but the defining point is that the Montreal Canadiens have had a lack of league-recognizing talent on the roster for five years.

This year is no exception.

The Montreal Canadiens don’t have anyone of that capability currently, and the fact that they were 24th in the league in points and points percentage is telling of its impact. Who knows if this will last forever, but the Habs have candidates in their organization who could possibly fill those shoes down the line.

Vezina

Carey Price isn’t done yet. He hasn’t had the best numbers in the last three seasons with injuries and fatigue, but he’s shown the ability to be able to turn the Habs’ net into a brick wall. For what it’s worth, the only way the Montreal Canadiens can compete on the level Marc Bergevin wants them to is if Price is on his game.

It’s those kinds of details that influence the voting process. Connor Hellebuyck is one of the three nominees for the Vezina, and he deserves to win it. The Winnipeg Jets’ blueline took a massive hit this year with the Jacob Trouba trade and the falling out with Dustin Byfuglien. The team was one of the leakiest teams defensively being in the bottom-five more scoring chances allowed at 5v5 while allowing the most high-danger chances.

However, Hellebuyck played out of his mind and kept the Jets in the running. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Price have another year like that in him despite his age.

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