Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Halak Will Provide Stiff Competition for Price this Season

September 25, 2009, 11:00 AM ET [ Comments]
Habs Talk
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Jaroslav Halak introduced himself to the Montreal Canadiens and their fans in the wake of an injury to Cristobal Huet, late in the 2006-07 season. The buzz was that this young Slovakian goalie had looked pretty sharp with the Hamilton Bulldogs, and the Canadiens were going to be forced to give him a chance in Huet’s absence. Not much was expected of him, but he delivered 10 wins in 16 games; placing the Canadiens in a position to grab a playoff spot going into the final game of the regular season. Not to relive devastating memories, but recall Cristobal Huet being given the nod over Halak as a decision that was hotly debated. The results likely reinforced what had to have been the most difficult moment of Jaroslav Halak’s young career as a Montreal Canadien.

Halak was then sent from the Canadiens straight to the World Championships of Hockey instead of back down to Hamilton, and Carey Price earned a promotion after his Tri-City Americans were eliminated from the playoffs in the Western Hockey League. As we all know, Price went from junior hockey-stud, to MVP of the AHL playoffs, and in the process catapulted past Halak on the Montreal depth chart.

The following season, after a very strong training camp, the Canadiens sent Halak back down to Hamilton in favor of Cristobal Huet and Carey Price. Understandably distraught, Halak took for Hamilton, wondering when he’d next have an opportunity to prove he belonged in the NHL.

It was at that time when rumors began to surface regarding Halak’s intention to sign with a Russian team, or demand a trade from the Montreal Canadiens. Rumors, agent Allan Walsh referred to as nonsense in conversation with this blogger last week:

“I have never, nor will I ever demand a trade for any of my players. It’s not part of our policy, and not something we believe in.”

Later that season, Huet was traded, and Halak earned his spot behind Carey Price, though his first opportunity to push Price for some playing time would only come in 2008-09. If Canadiens fans were to name a few positives in a Centennial season that provided a plethora of negatives, Halak was one of them.

This season, Halak has the opportunity to push Carey Price for more playing time, and the incentive is much greater than the motivation of playing for a contract. Price is determined to prove last season’s flop was an anomaly, while Halak aims to show he can be a starter in the National Hockey League, and a starter for Slovakia come February, in Vancouver.

And so it seems natural to assume that the young Slovakian is worried about seeing enough action in the early parts of this season. But Halak plays it cool when asked about it:

“We have plenty of time to get ready for the Olympics. I gotta play as best I can, and as much as I can because there’s another goalie (Peter Budaj), and I’m pretty sure he’s going to be ready also. It’s hockey; one goalie plays, the other guy sits on the bench. Every time the other guy gets a chance he has to do his best with that chance, and that’s what I’m trying to do.”

Jacques Martin has yet to give Halak any assurances that he’ll see a fair amount of action, but Allan Walsh is quick to remind “Coaches and managers say the same things every year about their top goalie, and though they’ve already given Price their endorsement, they did the same thing last year, and Jaro started 34 games.”

Though he’s taken a couple of losses this preseason, Halak’s had the best numbers of any goalie in training camp, posting a 1.56 GAA, and a .937SA%. He’s committed to doing everything the team asks of him, and if he continues to perform as well, he’ll persistently pressure Carey Price for the playing time he so desperately requires to earn a solid contract, and a chance to backstop his Olympic team. And considering the humility Halak has shown in accepting his role, and the respect he’s given the Canadiens organization, one can’t help but pull for him.










Join the Discussion: » Comments » Post New Comment
More from Habs Talk
» Heartbreak> Brian Bannan
» Game 3 Preview: Brian Bannan
» Will the Real Habs Please Step Forward? by Andrew Wright
» Game 2 recap- Jennifer Berzan Cutler
» New Habs Blog> M.R. d'Awe