The NHL has named its quarter-century team, which consists of 16 forwards, three defensemen, and six netminders. Only one Montreal Canadiens player has made the line-up: Carey Price, the winningest goaltender in franchise history.
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While Patrick Roy has also been named among the goaltenders, he played his last game with the Canadiens in 1995 and was named a member of the Colorado Avalanche.
Price would still be playing with the Habs had it not been for his many injuries throughout his career. His eight-year contract will expire at the end of the next season, and his $10.5 M will come off the books. Unless, of course, Kent Hughes trades his contract, but that’s a discussion for another day.
In his 15-year career with the Sainte-Flanelle, the Anahim Lake, British Columbia native has played 712 games and put together a 361-261-79-49 record with a 2.51 goals-against average (eighth best in team history) and a .917 save percentage. He also blanked the opponent 49 times, the third-highest total in team history.
Price won many individual awards, including the Hart, Vezina, Ted Lindsay, Jennings, and Bill Masterton Trophy. After joining the team at the end of his junior career, he led the Hamilton Bulldogs to the Calder Cup and was named the playoffs’ MVP.
He could never lead the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup, however, the victim of his era. One of the best goaltenders to patrol the Tricolore’s crease ever, he could never count on much offensive support, and one can wonder if he looks at the current group and wonders why he couldn’t have had that kind of offensive talent at his disposal.
The fact that no other Canadiens players made the rankings shows how hard it’s been for the once glorious franchise to rise to the top since its last Cup conquest in 1993. Fans can now only hope that the second quarter of the current century will be better for the favourite team.
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