Joined: Mar. 2018
Posts: 219
Likes: 46
Like most comments here, totally agree with the list breakdown. I think Suzuki is the clear untouchable of the group. The only one I question (because I'm a fan of him) is Price! I get it with the $10.5M cap hit and most recent surgery.....but
But the fact that he checked himself into the Players' Assistance program only means that is mental health (and physical) will only benefit him for the last four years of his contract. Say what you will, but he did take a mediocre team to the finals last season. That's right last season, not 5, not 8 or 10 yrs ago. The problem for MTL with a Carey Price trade is simply the expected return they may get for him. Habs would most def have to retain at least $2.5M to make any deal work. Also, they would need to forget about getting a first round pick (or multiple) in return. And they would certainly have to take cap back. But for me, that doesn't make his value negative, it just limits the number of teams that would actually be interested.
Let's keep in mind the most recent goalies to play past 37-38 yrs old. There was Lundqvist in NYR, Luongo in FLA and currently Smith in EDM and Anderson in BUF. Carey Price when healthy is better than any of these goalies - in the past, during their prime and when Price gets to their age! The only one that had really good numbers was Luongo and Price has always had better mobility and quickness than Luongo ever did. If he stays healthy, Price will still be a top 8-10 goalie in the NHL in the last year of his contract.
And for those that will say "but Carey's never one a Cup", the last time I checked only two goalies can win the cup every season - the #1 and his backup. Change Vasilevskiy for Price and Tampa still wins back to back Cups imo!