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Recrutes: Hockey scouting from a professional perspective from Grant McCagg and Habs coverage from a 33 year veteran covering the NHL from Brian Wilde.

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McLean’s Pub Call Of The Wilde: Price Back

March 19, 2018

By Brian Wilde

The Montreal Canadiens back on the ice for a home game Monday night at the Bell Centre taking on a team in desperate need of a win or a playoff spot would once again be just beyond their grasp. The Florida Panthers routed the Habs two weeks ago in Sunrise. The Habs looking for revenge with Niemi in goal and Price as back-up.

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About Brian Wilde

Brian Wilde has worked in hockey since he was 20. He was the rink side host for the Edmonton Oilers at CTV and Ottawa Senators for Sportsnet. He was also lead reporter on the Montreal Canadiens for 17 years at CTV Montreal.

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Reader Interactions

  • Very good points on Price. It makes no sense. This team is giving up 40+ shots a game these days. It’s like bringing back a franchise QB from an injury behind a HORRIBLE offensive line when the team is 3-11. What is the point? What is the upside? The argument seems to be ‘we want Price to feel good about his game entering the off-season’. And what if he plays like has all year, or even worse? You’ve only hurt his confidence even more. And behind this tire fire of a team right now, the odds are he will not do well.

    Losing Danault and A. Shaw was a massive turning point. This team went from somewhat competitive to completely outmatched in these last few games since the 2-0 lead against PIT. We are basically icing a team with 3 centers who are 4th line centers on a normal NHL team. Add in that Petry’s game has really fallen off over the last 2 weeks or so, making an already poor defence even worse. It’s pretty much impossible to compete. The ugliness will continue down the stretch. The tank will roll on.

    Hopefully management and the medical staff smartly shuts down Danault and Shaw. Just the nature of their injuries should dictate it but I have no confidence in this medical staff after the countless debacles on their watch this year. Shutting both down should lock up the 4th lottery slot for the Habs considering the easy schedules of DET and OTT coming up.

  • Price.concussions,multiple injuries,playing shit all ssn,hey hes clearly lost it,cant find it,injury prone and 30. Lets sign him to a multi buhjillion $ mega deal !! Bergy what a #%n clown. Maybe they want price to play to showcase hes ok,then trade him before july 1 mega deal…ala subban.hope so.
    Geoff molson says twice now,bergys my man he will be the gm in october. Hope thats pure bs and assclown bergy is terminated after 9 more games.
    No goals in 2 games..yaaa baby..all out TANK mode !!

  • Hi Brian,
    As an MD I would say your take on concussions is bang on. I cannot comprehend why they would bring Price back now, especially considering what happened with Shaw and Danualt this year already. I also think the concussion spotters in the stands have to change their approach. Price did not look right immediately after that puck hit him in the head. I was shocked that he stayed in the game. Boy if he gets injured in the next few games the optics will not be pretty.

  • Brian, I honestly don’t get the point of having Price back. Keep him healthy and let Lindgren get some more much needed experience in the NHL. The thought process just baffles me. What are they thinking? 8yr 10.5 million dollars and if anoth injury happens in meaningless play, Price could end up damaged goods. Shaw may be in that spot already.

  • Great article, Brian. I agree with your comments on Price and Niemi.

    Niemi stood on his head last night. Not the result I was looking for – making the trip to see a game this year – but he made the game enjoyable. That was it. Otherwise, it wasn’t much of a game for any fan base. Boring, slow, and sloppy. Too bad.

    Funny. I ran into Geoff Molson in the afternoon. Shook his hand and said hi – friendly. The look on his face when I approached him (respectfully, of course) gave me the impression that he was worried that I was a fanatic with some ‘particular’ feedback for him… Not the case. Just a respectful hello and introduction from me.