I have a pretty high pick in my Keeper Pool this year and I need a goalie pretty bad.

Carey Price has been climbing my charts bigtime since he\'s been ripping it up in the AHL Playoffs.
Tonight, Game 1 of the AHL finals he made 46 stops for a shutout.

My question is, would you pick Carey Price ahead of Nicholas Backstrom of the Wild?

(I don\'t expect to win this year. Hopefully in 2-4 years)

Post edited by: Ranchuboy, at: 2007/06/02 02:26

Post edited by: Ranchuboy, at: 2007/06/02 03:12

If you are ready to wait just a little go for Price. Huet won\'t be Montreal starting goaltender in 3 or 4 year it\'ll be Price no doubt. In 4 years, Backstrom will be 33 years old and could start to decline and don\'t forget that Harding can steal his job sooner than later. For next year, I think Backstrom is the better choice but after...no doubt. In your situation I\'d go for Price, you can\'t regret it and you will if you take Backstrom over him (my opinion).

Post edited by: TommyB, at: 2007/06/02 09:37

I agree with Tommy B. If you plan on winning in the next 2-4 years then Price is your best option. I watched him play 3 games in Hamilton and he looks like the real deal. I will be dropping Jose Theodore for Price. If Halak or Huet get injured next year I see Price getting some action. Here is a little history. The last time a promoted junior led his team to the Calder Cup for Montreal was Patrick Roy. I know its too early to compare the two, but it sure would be nice to see Price follow a similar career path.

Post edited by: Miho, at: 2007/06/02 09:22

Do you have some goaltending depth? If so then the choice is Price. If you need an immediate starter then I would go with Backstrom. I don\'t think that Price is far away though. It wouldn\'t surprise me to see Price start a few games this year for Montreal. Depending on how he does might dictate whether he goes back to the AHL or not. Montreal would prefer to have him playing a lot of games rather than be a in a \'back up\' role. Price\'s ability and youth is a nice fit with the young Montreal core. Price will be a star goaltender. Can you afford to wait for him?

I will need help this season in goal so I\'m still considering Backstrom but I have to think that my team isn\'t ready to win the Championship until 2 years or so.
My hope is that Price will be a starter in 2008/2009.

Or I can take Backstrom with my early pick and another young goalie (Rask, Harding, Bernier) with my later pick and wait for the youngster to develop. I can always trade Backstrom later.

Ahh....got the entire summer to decide eh? I think I\'ll wait to see how Price does in Training camp.

2008-09 is probably too early to expect Price to be a starter. It could happen, but it isn\'t likely.

__________________
T.G.