The top two netminders taken in their draft class of 2005, Montreal’s Carey Price (5th overall) and Boston’s Tuukka Rask (21st overall) are quite similar. They are tall, mechanically sound butterfly styles with excellent “economy of motion” (or little wasted movement). Though scouts have compared the two 21 year old goalies for years, rival GMs Bob Gainey and Peter Chiarelli have practiced quite different philosophies in developing these stars of the future.
Though Rask has played in only one NHL game this season, he’s already matched Price’s 2008-09 shutout total with his glimmering effort against the Rangers last Saturday. The audition came in relief of injured backstop Manny Fernandez, who along with Tim Thomas has created a roadblock to Boston for the Finnish phenom. Rask, who has also pitched 3 shutouts this season with the Bruins AHL affiliate in Providence, has had to practice patience during his apprenticeship. Bruins head of player development Don Sweeney never wavered from his initial 2007 projection that Tuukka was “a year or two away”, stressing the importance of keeping him in a “winning environment”.
No such roadblocks ever really existed for the Habs’ Price. Coming off a banner year in 2007 which including a World Junior gold medal and an AHL Calder Cup, Montreal’s coveted prospect began his first full pro season in a crease timeshare with Cristobal Huet. Upon the veteran Frenchman’s trade at the 2008 deadline, Price was ‘handed the keys’ as the Canadiens roared into the playoffs as the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Admittedly tired from his first pro season, Price faltered in series against the Bruins and Flyers. The calm and collected western Canadian committed himself to a strict conditioning regimen last off-season, shedding pounds to become quicker and more agile between the pipes. Despite nagging injuries throughout 2008-09’s first half, Price earned the starting nod in January’s All-star game.
Which method will produce the best result: Gainey’s fast-track experience model or Chiarelli’s more conservative progressional approach? One thing is for certain: Price and Rask will have numerous opportunities to test each other. Given the tradition of the Montreal vs. Boston epic rivalry, the heirs to each goaltending throne will be linked side by side for years to come in a competitive rivalry of their own.
