The thing is, we've been hearing this for a while. Next year for price, next year, next year. He finally has a good FULL season last year, and goes right back to his usual self.

What you're telling me that he won't necessarily show these so called elite abilities in his play until potentially 27. Eight seasons into his career. Why does guy get so much leeway from you guys? I guarantee if a Leaf goalie came along that looked good, you would name him a bust after one bad season.
- prock

I think keeping a mediocre team 11th in team gaa is pretty admirable. you can't fault him for being on a poor mismanaged team.

He had a great season last year, and a pretty decent one this year. If he he can improve on this year i think he goes to borderline elite and probably canada's top goalie. although it would be a toss up between ward, fluery and him imo.

Easily Hiller. Also Vokoun, Halak, Backstrom, Luongo, Brodeur (though probably not for long), potentially Rask and Scneider.
- prock

why easily hiller? there stats are almost identical year to year.

The thing is, we've been hearing this for a while. Next year for price, next year, next year. He finally has a good FULL season last year, and goes right back to his usual self.

What you're telling me that he won't necessarily show these so called elite abilities in his play until potentially 27. Eight seasons into his career. Why does guy get so much leeway from you guys? I guarantee if a Leaf goalie came along that looked good, you would name him a bust after one bad season.
- prock

To me, a young goalie is a young goalie regardless of if his early experience comes from the NHL, AHL or a european league they all seem to come into their prime between the ages of 25-29. Although Price' seasoning comes from NHL experience he will still have the same growing pains as these other goalies who cut their teeth in other leagues yet still didn't hit their stride until their mid to late twenties. Especially when you consider the lack of quality he currently plays with.

Price has proven he has the tools to be a higher echelon goaltender early in his career winning a World Junior Gold Medal and being the playoff MVP for a Calder Cup winning team. As I said, his prime years are still ahead of him regardless if his development years have come from the NHL. Its almost the same with all goaltenders.

You likened his situation to Kulemin but I feel that Luke Schenn is a better example. People right off Schenn very easily but they never seem to realize that he plays a position that requires much more seasoning then a forward. He too, has his prime years before him.

why easily hiller? there stats are almost identical year to year.
- sens rock

Not to mention Hiller is 30 years old.

I fear Prock may have a bias towards the Habs that won't allow him to be 100% objectionable in this discussion.

Not to mention Hiller is 30 years old.

I fear Prock may have a bias towards the Habs that won't allow him to be 100% objectionable in this discussion.
- Cape Breton Bruins

his bias isn't limited to the habs.

The thing is, we've been hearing this for a while. Next year for price, next year, next year. He finally has a good FULL season last year, and goes right back to his usual self.

What you're telling me that he won't necessarily show these so called elite abilities in his play until potentially 27. Eight seasons into his career. Why does guy get so much leeway from you guys? I guarantee if a Leaf goalie came along that looked good, you would name him a bust after one bad season.
- prock

You say you constantly hear next year with price? Last year was a fantastic year and this year he put up some pretty good numbers considering what was in front of him. I can remember him having Emelin (rookie), Diaz (rookie), St Denis (rookie) weber(2nd year) Subban (2nd year) and Georges in front of him for games. Seems you are going by stats but everyone else on this forum watches his games and sees that he was not the problem this year and sees how good he is.

Look back at him play his rookie year was great and the second year he was doing well until he got hurt prior to the allstar game. After he came back he was horrible after that and the following season he had a 912 save percentage which is average. So out of the 5 years he has played he has had a year and a half where he wasn't that good. Go back and look that everyone but you have the same opinion.

Your reply earlier was Miller was top 10 in save % at 25. Price was at 24 and probably top 5 if you look at it. You say Quick had a good year but when Price has similar numbers he is average?
My favorite is the Rinne one.
Rinne was in his rookie season at 25. It was pretty solid. It didn't take him long (sure as hell not 5 years) to become a vezina caliber goalie.
Well for one he was in his third year at age 28 before he put up solid numbers after starting the NHL at 25 being more mature and having more development time. Price was one year later at his 4th season but was only 23. His numbers weren't as good as Rinne but still top 5 goalie. His big season came at an age were Rinne was still in the AHL. Do you not see the problem?

his bias isn't limited to the habs.
- sens rock

No it is toward any Canadian team and he does have a very hard time with it. Can't really take him serious when it comes to them.

Price seemed to have fixed a lot of his problems last year. I saw him own Boston on a few occasions.

Still not sure Montreal is the best place for him with his history of mental errors, which he seems more in control of, but time will tell.

Price seemed to have fixed a lot of his problems last year. I saw him own Boston on a few occasions.

Still not sure Montreal is the best place for him with his history of mental errors, which he seems more in control of, but time will tell.
- bruinsbeer69

As I mentioned before. Their is absolutely no doubt the ability is there. Putting it all together is yet to be seen and he is now hitting what is traditionally the prime years for goaltenders so we will know soon.

It's little early to start guessing who'll be on the team IF NHLers are even going to be included this time around.

The NHL gets nothing out of the current deal with the IIHF and Bettman said as much last time. I suspect with the new CBA this may be a point of discussion between the players and owners.

I would prefer the Hockey Olympic tourney be set up the same way the Football Olympic tourney is during the Summer games.


The NHL loses tons of revenue during the Olympics. The players might get worn down quicker during a compressed season and then there is the risk of an injury taking place to one of the stars during the Olympics.

The fans of NHL teams are forced to see more games in a shorter time span before and after the two week (or longer) break at one of the most important times of the NHL schedule.


The NHL owners see ZERO monetary benefit from allowing their players to play in the Olympics and the potential negative risk involved seems to far outweigh any nostalgic feelings that an owner would have for the Olympics.








http://www.ottawacitizen....+seeds/9463595/story.html

America will have a pretty solid team as well. Certainly a contender.

Backes
Parise
Kane
Kessel
Kesler
Callahan
Ryan
Oshie
Wheeler


Unreal goaltending too. Only issue may be the D.
- Cape Breton Bruins

Pacioretty
Statsny
Cole (If he mainains another 30+ goal year next might be considered)

It's little early to start guessing who'll be on the team IF NHLers are even going to be included this time around.

The NHL gets nothing out of the current deal with the IIHF and Bettman said as much last time. I suspect with the new CBA this may be a point of discussion between the players and owners.

I would prefer the Hockey Olympic tourney be set up the same way the Football Olympic tourney is during the Summer games.


The NHL loses tons of revenue during the Olympics. The players might get worn down quicker during a compressed season and then there is the risk of an injury taking place to one of the stars during the Olympics.

The fans of NHL teams are forced to see more games in a shorter time span before and after the two week (or longer) break at one of the most important times of the NHL schedule.


The NHL owners see ZERO monetary benefit from allowing their players to play in the Olympics and the potential negative risk involved seems to far outweigh any nostalgic feelings that an owner would have for the Olympics.
- Doppleganger

I had a friend interview with Minnesota during the last Olympic games. The GM had one of the games on and said to him "If at anytime during this interview I scream it's not because of you, it's because one of my guys just went down and our season is over"

This tourney is a nightmare for the NHL.

I had a friend interview with Minnesota during the last Olympic games. The GM had one of the games on and said to him "If at anytime during this interview I scream it's not because of you, it's because one of my guys just went down and our season is over"

This tourney is a nightmare for the NHL.
- bruinsbeer69

It also brings worldwide exposure to the game of hockey to a lot of places that would otherwise never have the inclination to watch. Having the best possible players there helps one would think. But I can totally understand the owners perspective on the situation.

It also brings worldwide exposure to the game of hockey to a lot of places that would otherwise never have the inclination to watch. Having the best possible players there helps one would think. But I can totally understand the owners perspective on the situation.
- Cape Breton Bruins

Me too.....but I love it

I remember in 06 I was standing in front of my TV at 5am and my pulse couldn't believe the quality of play. It felt like game 7 of the cup finals.....and it was day 1.

It also brings worldwide exposure to the game of hockey to a lot of places that would otherwise never have the inclination to watch. Having the best possible players there helps one would think. But I can totally understand the owners perspective on the situation.
- Cape Breton Bruins

you have to wonder if the nhl starting to participate in the 98 olympics has anything to do with guys like kopitar getting into hockey. If so then it is a must for the nhl to continue to participate.

I understand the owners angst over it, but i think it something the players have taken to heart and something they will not give up in the next cba

you have to wonder if the nhl starting to participate in the 98 olympics has anything to do with guys like kopitar getting into hockey. If so then it is a must for the nhl to continue to participate.

I understand the owners angst over it, but i think it something the players have taken to heart and something they will not give up in the next cba
- sens rock

If they just revive the World Cup of Hockey and play it in the off season so that it does not interfere with the NHL season, then all bases would be covered, and no need for the Olympics.

If they just revive the World Cup of Hockey and play it in the off season so that it does not interfere with the NHL season, then all bases would be covered, and no need for the Olympics.
- Doppleganger

They could get back to letting amateurs play, which is supposed to be the point of the Olympics, and we wouldn't be jonesing so long for hockey.

I don't think the NHL is sending it's players in 2014'.

I don't think the NHL is sending it's players in 2014'.
- RogerRoeper

Interesting to see how Donald Fehr plays this one.

Also, the time change from Vancouver to The other side of Russia will be a nightmare for television

But, I wonder if NBC is expecting it with their 2 billion dollar 10 year contract with the NHL, even if it wasn't written into the deal?

I'll watch it who ever is in the tourney, but I'd rather watch Parise, Kane, and Quick than whatever 30 year old American 4th liner who was unable to catch on with an NHL team and the top kids from Boston College and UNH represent my country.

his bias isn't limited to the habs.
- sens rock

Almost identical? Are you on drugs?

Here is their sv%s for the last 5 years. The rankings were considering goalies with more than 40 games or so played, except the first year, their rookie seasons, where Price played 20 more games.

sv% Hiller Price Difference
07/08 .927 (2nd in NHL) .920 (13th in NHL) .007
08/09 .919 (7th in NHL) .905 (26th in NHL) .014
09/10 .918 (10th in NHL) .912 (19th in NHL) .006
10/11 .924 (4th in NHL) .923 (5th in NHL) .001
11/12 .910 (23rd) .916 (15th) .006 in Price's favour

This is not "almost identical". A .006 difference for a goalie is a big difference. As you can see, that can put about 10 goaltenders, a full 1/3 of the league, between two goaltenders.

Hiller has been, generally top 10 over the past 5 years (all but this year), in terms of sv%. Price? Mostly middle of the league, if you figure 30 starting goalies, with one year near the bottom, and one year near the top (yet still behind Hiller).

That's not almost identical at all. That's a landslide win for Hiller.

You say you constantly hear next year with price? Last year was a fantastic year and this year he put up some pretty good numbers considering what was in front of him. I can remember him having Emelin (rookie), Diaz (rookie), St Denis (rookie) weber(2nd year) Subban (2nd year) and Georges in front of him for games. Seems you are going by stats but everyone else on this forum watches his games and sees that he was not the problem this year and sees how good he is.

- jordan456789

Funny, in the past you would chirp about how great defensively the Habs are. Now you're blaming that.

He's had ONE good full season. That's all. Is that all it takes for you to consider a player elite? Is Phil kessel elite? Tell me, is he?

Look back at him play his rookie year was great and the second year he was doing well until he got hurt prior to the allstar game. After he came back he was horrible after that and the following season he had a 912 save percentage which is average. So out of the 5 years he has played he has had a year and a half where he wasn't that good. Go back and look that everyone but you have the same opinion.

- jordan456789

And only 1 year of above average play. Kind of my point.... 3 years of average play, one year below, one year above. Sounds pretty average at this point to me......

Your reply earlier was Miller was top 10 in save % at 25. Price was at 24 and probably top 5 if you look at it. You say Quick had a good year but when Price has similar numbers he is average?
My favorite is the Rinne one.
Rinne was in his rookie season at 25. It was pretty solid. It didn't take him long (sure as hell not 5 years) to become a vezina caliber goalie.
Well for one he was in his third year at age 28 before he put up solid numbers after starting the NHL at 25 being more mature and having more development time. Price was one year later at his 4th season but was only 23. His numbers weren't as good as Rinne but still top 5 goalie. His big season came at an age were Rinne was still in the AHL. Do you not see the problem?
- jordan456789

Quick had a good year last year, and a phenomenal one this year. If Price can come up with a year like Quick did this year (actually, I would say a little bit better since Quick was better last year than Price was this year), then maybe we can start calling him a top goalie. Until then, he's just average. I never said he could become a top goalie. He sure as hell isn't right now though.

As I mentioned before. Their is absolutely no doubt the ability is there. Putting it all together is yet to be seen and he is now hitting what is traditionally the prime years for goaltenders so we will know soon.
- Cape Breton Bruins

EXACTLY. And he's hitting 25 now. Not old, but not really THAT young anymore. He's getting into an age where you would hope to have seen consistent top play by now, and we haven't.

2.43 GAA and .916 save % is respectable, especially on the 3rd worst team in the league. Last year he had 38 wins and a .923 save % to go along with a 2.35 GAA. Solid numbers. He is a good goalie and is only going to get better. He isn't even in the prime of his career yet.
- zach parise9

Respectable is not "great".

Last year, he was a top goalie. That's only one year of his career.

He is not a great goalie RIGHT NOW. You can use terms like respectable, solid, etc, all you want, and I won't argue. When you use the term great, in describing him right now, I'll disagree. He's not great right now. And he may not be IN the prime of his career, but he's getting there.

his bias isn't limited to the habs.
- sens rock

Bias? About 4 years ago, I said the Sens roster and prospects were getting thin, and they would probably bottom out in a couple of years. And then I went on to say the Habs would follow a couple of years after. I compared the Sens to the 07/08 Leafs, and the HAbs to the 05/06 Leafs.

That drove you guys nuts, and angered the hell out of you. Sens fans said retarded things like "we will never bottom out, and fall down to the bottom of the league because Murray is rebuilding while we continue to contend." Calling that crap is not bias, it's just reality. It doesn't work that way. It played out almost exactly as I said. The Sens crapped out, with the Habs to follow.

No it is toward any Canadian team and he does have a very hard time with it. Can't really take him serious when it comes to them.
- jordan456789

You can think it's bias all you like, I just don't think most of the Canadian teams are in very good shape.

Edmonton has been picking up high draft picks, and have a hell of a lot of talent, but I don't have a lot of faith in the way they've been trying to build a "team".

Ottawa did well this year. I think they played to the max of their capabilities, and were lucky to have a lot of players stay healthy, that you wouldn't expect to. They also had a few guys have career years. And that snagged them 8th. Everything went their way this year.

The Habs? That team is unbelievable mess. Garbage roster that they have to gut, which will take work, before they even start to rebuild.

I like Winnipeg actually. They've got some good young talent. They could be building something pretty good right now. It would take some time though.

Calgary? They need a rebuild. Badly.

Vancouver? Obviously the best team of the bunch, right now, I just don't see that core as the type that will win a cup.

The Leafs? Better situation than we've seen in years and certainly improving. But is that the kind of core that will win the Leafs a cup? Not right now, no. What are the odds of assembling a cup winning core from there? I don't like the odds.

All said and done.... I don't see ANY of these teams being true contending teams in the next few years. Choose to disagree if you want, call it bias if you want, but that's what I see.

Ask some Canucks fans. They got pretty angry at me last year for saying I like the Kings for a cup more than the Canucks. Looks like that could come true a hell of a lot sooner than the Canucks.

The TRUE contending teams are all American right now. that's just the way it is.