, the 21-year-old goaltender who just split his second professional season between the AHL’s Laval Rocket and the ECHL’s Brampton Beast, this is not a job for someone who’s never made a start at the NHL level. By the same token, it’s also not a job for blue-chip prospect Cayden Primeau.
The 19-year-old is expected to suit up for the Rocket next season, and the hope is that he’ll be given a significant workload in order to keep him progressing on the promising development path that saw him earn the Mike Richter Award this past season as the NCAA’s most outstanding goaltender. Parking him behind Price for close to 60 games would be detrimental to that process.
This is a job for an experienced player who accepts that Price is the clear-cut No. 1. A player who has proven he can win when counted on sporadically. A player who is willing to sign a deal that doesn’t force the Canadiens to spend much more at the position . And a player good enough to step in and stem the pressure the Canadiens would face if Price suffered a short-, medium-, or long-term injury.
It’s a job that seems ripe for current Philadelphia Flyers goaltender and pending UFA Cam Talbot. The 31-year-old from Caledonia, Ont., is coming off a three-year, $12.5-million contract that paid him to be a reliable starter for the Edmonton Oilers. Though his numbers were respectable — he had a .906 save percentage over the term of his contract — they declined year after year and fell short of expectations after he posted a .
But Talbot proved appealing to the Oilers in the first place because of the work he did behind one of the only other goaltenders in the league of equal status to Price. In 57 appearances spread over two seasons with the New York Rangers as Henrik Lundqvist’s backup, Talbot won 33 games and posted a .934 save percentage.
EricEngels I'd go with lindgren. He's always played well in the NHL with NHL dmen. Deserves the shot
EricEngels It's time for Lindgren to get his shot. Up to him what he does with it.
EricEngels If this is Talbot in the pic...No way lol.
EricEngels The Habs missed the playoffs by 2 points (essentially 1 game). There is no margin for error and not possible to 'give Lindgren a shot'. A good decision needs to be made with the back up position. Personally, I don't think Lindgren is the guy for the job, but who?
EricEngels Talbot
EricEngels They should have given Steve Mason a shot at the job last year...
EricEngels We should go with Lindgren now..
EricEngels Talbot is a great option. Big question is how much it would cost. Hoping nothing over 2 million.
EricEngels Agree. I'm not convinced Lindgren can take the job. He's hasn't shown enough to do so. I'd sooner go after someone like Kinkaid for a cheap price.
EricEngels Why is there a pic of Hart in a habs article?
EricEngels Carey played his best hickey in years this season and played the most he has in years. MYbe it doesn’t apply to him.
EricEngels I’d rather take my chances with Lindgren as Price’s backup and with McNiven and Primeau in Laval. That cap space needs to be used to improve the top 4 D and on a top 6 forward. With Price’s $10.5M in cap space you simply can’t commit another $3-$4M on a back up goalie
EricEngels There are 3-4 good back ups they can prob get around 1.5M.
EricEngels Garrett Sparks is available! He would love to backup a great goaltender like Carey Price.
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