Could Carey Price Be the 2008 Conn Smythe Winner?

The question that has been posed for Bleacher Report writers is: Who will win the 2008 Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP?

Well, to figure that one out, you pretty much have to try and pick a Stanley Cup winner--and we're only a couple days into the playoffs.

My pick as Cup champs in 2007-08 would be the Montreal Canadiens.

And no, I do not like the Habs, I do not intend to jump on their bandwagon, and I most certainly will not root for them now or in the upcoming weeks.

But this is looking more and more like it's their year.

The Habs have won the Stanley Cup in every completed decade since the NHL was established in 1917-18, though they haven't won the prize in the 2000's. And Montreal is the New York Yankees of hockey, in terms of being the most succesful franchise on the ice.

Could this finally be the Habs' year?

8-0-0 in eight games against the Boston Bruins in the regular season. A historic five-goal comeback against the New York Rangers earlier in the year. The leap over the once-untouchable Ottawa Senators in the standings. All part of a magical run for these Habs.

Alexi Kovalev was a liability last season, and all he's done in 2007-08 is become a Hart Trophy candidate with a career year, statistically and as a leader too.

The Habs traded away their No. 1 goalie at the trade deadline (for basically nothing), and those who snickered at GM Bob Gainey must be stunned at the play of former backup Carey Price, who led the team to the top of a competitive conference.

There were those who picked Montreal to finish worse than the Toronto Maple Leafs at the start of the season. Those same experts must be shaking their heads now, seeing how the Habs are one of the most exciting and fastest teams in the league. And the Habs boast the league's highest-scoring team and most potent power play to boot.

Yes, the last time the Habs were No. 1 in their conference was in 1988-89, when they went all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Goaltending was a big factor then, just as it has been down the stretch for the the 2007-08 edition of the Habs with Price, who was drafted just three years ago, fifth overall.

Price may be a rookie, but he has been unflappable since being handed the starting role after Cristobal Huet's trade. With basically three other teams battling Montreal for that top spot in the East, it was Price who carried the Habs.

Try a 7-0-0 record with a 1.96 GAA and incredible .940 save percentage to end the regular season, and a 15-4-0 mark in his final 19 decisions of the year.

Why wouldn't Price carry that success on in the post-season? After all, if Price was able to handle the pressure down the stretch, playing in a passionate, hockey-mad city like Montreal, why couldn't he duplicate it in the next few weeks?

And rookie goaltenders have won Stanley Cups before--in fact, the Habs have had two in recent history: Ken Dryden in 1971 and Patrick Roy in 1986.

Price might well be the next one.

Interestingly, as I am writing this, Price has just allowed two straight third-period goals to the Bruins in Game Two, and the game is heading into OT.

Knowing the Bruins' luck against the Canadiens in the playoffs though, Price will probably shut the door in overtime, the Canadiens will win the game, and go on to sweep the B's.

Then win twelve more in the next three rounds to give the city of Montreal yet another championship, and the rookie the playoff MVP trophy.

And we can all say that Carey Price of the Canadiens was able to do something that has eluded even the Devils' Marty Brodeur.

Win a Conn Smythe Trophy.

In some years, sports can be so predictable. Some years you just know the Yankees were going to win it. I feel it watching this year's Habs.

I had previously taken shots at the Habs in the "Final Word" of one of my books, saying the Canadiens will not win a Stanley Cup this decade.

I'll have to eat my words come June. But, if I can get that Bleacher Report T-shirt, it will be well worth it.

And, I just looked up from the computer screen--the Canadiens have won Game Two in overtime.

It is just so predictable.