On March 12, 2019, in a 3-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings, the Montreal Canadiens Carey Price became the winningest goalie in Montreal Canadiens history. Carey Price got victory # 315, surpassing Canadiens Hall of Famer goalie Jacques Plante.
Carey Price was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens back in 2005, in the first round, 5th overall. What’s surprising about the pick was that Price wasn’t even the Canadiens’ first choice in that draft. The Canadiens had their sights on power-forward Benoit Pouliot , but he was selected one pick earlier, 4th overall by Minnesota. So the Canadiens went with their next player on their rankings, and selected Carey Price. Many at the time were surprised the Canadiens drafted Price seeing at the time goaltending was not the team’s biggest need. But then team General Manager Bob Gainey knew that Carey Price was a work horse, and would definitely be part of the puzzle to win the ultimate prize; the Stanley Cup. BetEasy online odds for the 2019 Stanley Cup.
Carey Price made his Canadiens debut during the 2007-08 season winning 24 games in 41 games. The fact that Carey Price has become the Canadiens’ winningest goalie in just 12 seasons is quite remarkable considering Price has not benefited from playing in front of teams stacked with Hall of Fame talent. During those 12 seasons, no Canadiens player has ever scored more than 70 points in one season. Tomas Plekanec managed that feat during the 2009-10 season. And Max Domi will mostly likely do it this season. And only one other player won a major award during that span with the Canadiens when P.K. Subban won the Norris Trophy for outstanding defenceman during the 2012-13 regular season.
While it is true that Jacques Plante played in an era where a season was 70 games compared to today where they play 82, Plante also played in a an era where a goalie was expected to play every game. Not to mention Plante benefited with having hockey legends as teammates like Maurice Richard, Jean Belliveau, Bernard Geoffrion, Doug Harvey to name a few.
In today’s NHL, where parity is the rule, to play for one team for 12 seasons, and to remain relatively healthy, is rare. Price , who is now 31 years old, has been hampered by injuries over the years, but still expected to play over 60 games a season, and win anywhere between 30-40+ games a season. Furthermore, Price still retains elite status not only amongst his teammates, but amongst his peers too, having recently been voted best goalie in the NHL by his fellow players.