PRICE, IRVING AND POGGE
Posted 10:09 AM ET | Comments 8
Here is my take on the whole Carey Price bandwagon. Carey Price has talent no question about that. His play over the last 5 yrs in WHL & AHL hasnt been all that great. People say the goalie is only as good as the defense. I agree with that to a point...A goalie that is hyped up as much as he is should be better than his defense. Thats what seperates the great goalies in this league from the lower end ones. Usually a top goalie coming out of the WHL & AHL are going to be picked up by a team in the NHL who has the 1st or 2nd pick. The teams with those pics will the lower end ones such as Columbus & Pheonix. On another note Look at last yr with the Calgary Hitmen..Justin Pogge seems to be the real deal along with Leland Irving from the Everett Silvertips. Pogge and Irving have the stats to back their skill and ability to play well in the NHL. For some reason everything seems to be about Price when there are alot better goalies that are waiting for their chance.
Carey Price's Statistics
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Justin Pogge's Statistics
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Leland Irving's Statistics
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Carey Price's Statistics
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Justin Pogge's Statistics
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Leland Irving's Statistics
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I can't comment about Pogge so much, although he was stellar playing for my hometown Hitmen. But as for Price and Irving... Irving played for the WHL's most defensive team in Everett, something that Price did not have the luxury of. And Price didn't miss a beat when stepping into the AHL (with bigger, faster, more skilled shooters) at the end of the season and guiding the Bulldogs to the Calder Cup, winning a "best goalie" award on the way. If that doesn't qualify you as a potential NHL star, I don't know what does.
Carey Price is awesome. Statistics don't tell the whole story and did you even see Price in the Calder Cup run this year. I doubt you have ever seen him or any of them play in the WHL. Luongo had terrible numbers in Florida for years and he was probably the best goalie in the league. Numbers don't lie but they don't tell it all either.
Hockey scoting is about more than a few stats in junior!!Price has the puck handling skills that are almost as good as Brodeur and a calm demeanor that is perfect for the NHL. Calder Cup MVP with 2 games AHL experience going in and beating the defending champs in the Final let alone WJHC MVP in dramatic fashion leads me to think Price will be a future Superstar in the NHL for the Habs!! Scouts and most NHL GM;s would agree I am guessing!
At the moment, Price IS the best goalie prospect around. But it bothers me how people completly dismiss other goaltenders... last season Pogge, by MANY people, was considered a better prospect than Price... 1 year later everything is different. You never know what's going to happen in a year. As for Irving, he''s got pure talent... he played on one the best defensive clubs in the WHL but look at his game. Fast, agile, calm, everything to make a great goaltender... to be honest, he reminds me of Pogge to a tee.
Hey Trevor Kidd was drafted before Broduer and Potvin... goalies are so hard to judge because by the time they make the NHL they are typically a lot older and teams pick them based on their skill sets as they stand now. Price has some very good skills, Pogge and Irving are just a little more ready should they go pro.
How do you figure Pogge and Irving are more ready when Price has turned pro and won the MVP while leading his team to a surprise Calder Cup championship. Please wear a helmet from now on.
Since no one has played an NHL season yet, I consider Irving, Pogge, Price, adding Tuuka Rask and maybe Jonathan Bernier as all equal in terms of potential to become all-star goalies.