Marc Bergevin gave Carey Price what he’s needed for years: a reliable backup. Many will argue that the highest-paid player on the Montreal Canadiens and the acclaimed “best goaltender in the world” doesn’t need a reliable backup, but there are many layers to that conversation. This past Return to Play proved that ensuring Price is healthy and rested can do wonders. And that leads to the Jake Allen trade.
Trials with Antti Niemi, Charlie Lindgren and Keith Kinkaid had polarizing effects on the Habs, though all of them ended with a stretch of the season where Price would be run every single game.