With news that the Canadiens have opted to keep Carey Price, rather than send him down more AHL seasoning, an interesting fantasy conundrum arises.
The question being asked by fantasy players is whether or not Price is, at this point, a viable add.
While there is little doubt that Price is a "can't miss" prospect, and will be the anchor of fantasy teams for years to come, I don't think that time has arrived. Yet.
Most people expect Price to open the season as the backup to Christobal Huet, but I'm not sure if I agree. If Carey Price is the Canadiens goalie of the future, and few will disagree with that assumption, then what purpose does it serve to have him playing second fiddle in the NHL? Conventional wisdom suggests that the way to handle Price in this situation would be to give him a sniff of NHL action early, and then send him down to run with the #1 job in the AHL. After a full season of AHL play, Price would presumably take over for Huet to begin next season.
I think that the salary cap, in combination with the new free agency eligibility requirements, is going to change the conventional approach to handling young players. If you feel that Carey Price is your best goaltender in training camp, then you open the season with Carey Price as your #1 goaltender. I wouldn't be the least bit shocked to see the Canadiens open the season with Price. That's not to say that they'll throw him to the wolves; if the team struggles, or Price struggles, then they'll make adjustments.
So, if I believe that Price will open as the starter, why don't I like him as a fantasy add?
Well, I do. I like Price as a 3rd goalie, particularly if you've drafted Huet as a member of your top pair. The main reason for the suggested caution is that the Canadiens are not, by any means, a defensive gem of a team. They are not amongst the upper echelon of NHL teams, and will struggle to be a .500 hockey team. None of this makes for an excellent environment in which to break in a rookie netminder.
To summarize, look at adding Price but do so with care. Monitor his play, and the team's perception of that play, over the first few weeks, and adjust your roster as needed.
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