The SBP Archives - Your less than frequent dose of SBP!

The Montreal Canadiens, riding the 1st place finish in the Eastern Conference 2007-08 season and the 100th anniversary of their franchise, had great expectations on them this year.  Starting out like gangbusters, it looked like fate had a great finish waiting for them but they eventually flamed out and barely made the post-season, only to be swept away by the Boston Bruins.  Trash was thrown on the ice by the unhappy fans in game 4 and a parade of boos echoed through the arena.  The situation can be summed up as to what's happened to 21 year-old Carey Price, as he threw his arms up a la Patrick Roy in 1995, when Roy would play his last game as a Canadien.  A parade of boos was also heard by the Hall-of-Fame goaltender that night before heading to Colorado to win another Stanley Cup.  Montreal would not win another since.

For some reason, there is zero patience in Montreal.  I feel kind of bad for Carey Price, I mean, do you remember how mature you were at 21 years old?  How fair is it to expect Price to carry the entire team on his shoulders while comparisons to Ken Dryden and the aforementioned Roy are put in his face every day?  He had a strong rookie campaign and showed tons of potential.  But that's all it is right now...potential.  95% of rookies need a few years before they can become full blown superstars.  Sure, Roy was a rookie when he won the Cup for Montreal in 1986.  But he's an EXCEPTION, not the rule.   Price, if he becomes a true #1 goalkeeper, probably is another 2 or 3  years away from that. 

So, depending on the time of year, Price summed it up best by saying he's either put on too high a pedestal or thrown way far under the bus.  There is no room for middle ground.  Any flashes of brilliance brings up memories of Jacques Plante hoisting the Stanley Cup.   Heaven forbid if you make a mistake: You'll be labelled a goat for quite some time.

I guess my point is Montreal Canadiens fans, or their media, or both, are their own worst enemies.  They have the most storied history of any NHL franchise.   They have caring fans.  But they don't seem to understand concepts like "development" and "in progress" and "slumps."  Do you think for a second guys like Daniel Briere and Vincent Lecavalier see what's happening to Price and regret not signing a contract with Montreal? 

There's a huge difference between being passionate and being unrealistic.  Habs fans fall into the latter, and that is why I don't see them fielding a championship team anytime soon.