Carey Price vs. Justin Pogge - who is the better goalie? Who is more of a complete package? And who will have more success in the NHL? That is the question at hand, and I bet a lot of people are saying "what a retarded question," but hear me out.
Of course people will say Carey Price because he has had more time to establish himself in the NHL, and in all fairness he is in the lead for who is better, but don't count Pogge out.
Pogge played admirably last season in the minors and if he continues this year will warrant a call-up to play to the big club. He is big, has a quick glove and moves very well in the crease, just like Carey Price.
But unlike Carey Price, Justin Pogge has no NHL experience under his belt yet and still has a lot of work to do before he gets some.
Carey Price on the other hand, has already gotten a big taste of what the NHL is like, and in a lot of games last season, has shown he can play at an all-star level.
So that means Carey Price has won right?
Wrong.
Even though Carey Price has shown he can be a great goaltender, Justin Pogge still hasn't had a chance to showcase his skills yet. He needs a little more time to develop before he can have his chance at a permanent position in the big show, and in all fairness, so does Price.
Price hasn't hit his peak yet, it's scary to think he plays this well before he has even hit his prime. Yet again, he showed chinks in his armor in the playoffs, which tells me he needs a little more experience before he hits that next level of play.
So, after all this, who is the better goalie?
The answer is Price. He is already in the NHL playing at a high level, and he is not even legally able to drink in the U.S. yet. That is very impressive for a goalie to say the least.
But remember, this is as of right now. Justin Pogge is still a fine prospect and I am certain that one day, when he reaches his potential, he will be the starter for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and two-three years from now, this topic will be a much more intense battle of words between the Les Canadiens of Montreal, and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
17 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment
Miah D. 10 months ago
mmhh... I am not sure I like this article! lol
just kidding, still, as u say, it s a comparison now... we have to wait to see ... Price is sure really good, but we have to see.
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Alan Bass 10 months ago
If we're going on talent right now, then Price is the easy choice. However, if we're going on raw talent or potential, then it is a tough choice. I think I would still take Price, but only because I personally like him a bit better.
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Matt Eichel 10 months ago
True, Pogge hasn't hit his prime or even played in the NHL yet. But it all has to do with what teams they play for. As far as the Leafs are concerned, Pogge isn't in there immediate plans, say in the next two to five years because they've got Vesa Toskala - a goalie who was a backup in San Jose and is ready for being a primetime #1 goalie.
So the Leafs just got a #1 goalie and kept him through the re-building phase and don't seem to be getting rid of him anytime soon. So what happens to Pogge? He's probably going to be another goalie that sits around and waits 'til another Leafs GM figures out that he's a good goalie and should be given a shot. I don't see Fletcher doing it, so it all depends on who the Leafs bring in as their next full-time GM. I really hope Pogge gets the chance because if he doesn't, they better trade him - and do it within the next two to three years to get something for him.
Yet I think that Pogge and Price are both great young netminders - both won World Junior Championship Gold - yet Price developed alot faster. He's on a team that was looking for a future #1 goalie and he was put into the position right away. I think that Toronto, in all the upheaval and political hooplah that has been going on in Leaf nation the last few years has harmed Pogge. He should already be the backup if not the starter - if the Leafs wouldn't have signed Raycroft or brought in Toskala.
Pogge's going to be a #1 goalie, but it won't be for another year or two. And it won't be in Toronto unless Toskala is dumped and it isn't happening - at least under Fletcher. So while Pogge sits and plays every second game with the Toronto Marlies in the AHL, Price will be starting most games for the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL.
I'd take Price anyday.
But great read! I really like some controversy.
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Scott Quinn 10 months ago
Toskala is only under contract for 2 more years including the upcoming season. Both are likely to be rebuilding seasons so come Spring 2010 when Vesa is scheduled to be a UFA, if Pogge's development goes as planned, Toskala can be traded at the deadline and Pogge can finish the season as a #1 before taking over full-time. However, if Pogge is not seen to be ready, they can resign Toskala. Either way, the Leafs are solid in net for the next few years. If Pogge is NHL ready within the next year, Toskala's 4mil/ season salary would make him a very desirable trade commodity.
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John Pray 10 months ago
Matt, You need to take your head out of the sand, and do some research before making such a comment. I do agree with you that Pogge could be as much as a year away from making the show however and your too young to realize this. In January of 1993 Cliff Fletcher sent a great 5 time Stanley Cup winning goalie to Buffalo. Why did Cliff do this just as the Leafs were on the verge of playoff success, because he had a young goalie on the St Johns Maple Leafs named Felix Potvin. Now what is really going to happen here is this. Justin Pogge will be given another year on the Marlies but either late in this campain or in the off season a contending team in need of a goal tender will pay very very dearly for Toskala giving the Leafs valuable needed young talent to complete the re-build of there team. Cliff Fletcher is a very smart hockey man he built the Flames cup winner, in the early 90's he rebuilt the leafs and made them a contender, he may be greyer and older but that kind of talent is the last thing to go the power of the mind and the ability to judge talent.
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Matt Eichel 10 months ago
True, Fletcher did make a good deal there, but how many years did Potvin play well? Two or three? I never said Pogge will never be the #1 goalie and I fully believe Fletcher knows what he is doing. But he's still cleaning up John Ferguson Jr.'s mess and Pogge hopefully will be in the plans. But with Pogge's potential he's got a shot at the #1. Maybe even as a backup this season.
I never counted out Fletcher's ability to manage the Leafs. I think he'll get them out of the pit again as he did in the early 1990s. But Toskala is the man right now and looks like to be the player they are going to surround this new team around. So where does Pogge fit in? Perhaps as Scott said he'll be the #1 in a few years and Toskala could be dealt.
Fletcher is a genuis to me. I remember the Leafs of the early 90s and he knows what he is doing for sure.
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Ron Van Lew 10 months ago
Right now I am going with Price on the facts that Pogge has yet to make it to the NHL.
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Tyler Hill 10 months ago
At this point, carey Price is the better goalie, but when Pogge comes up and gets the NHL exprience he'll be fun to watch.
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Chris Hoeler 10 months ago
The thing about Price is that he looks way too nonchalant in the crease. During the playoffs, he let in goals that goalies shouldn't allow and made mistakes. Rookie mistakes? probably. But he is really going to have to turn things around considering he has been tabbed the starting goaltender for the Habs for the foreseeable future.
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Spencer Callaghan 10 months ago
How can you even make a comparison here?
One guy is in the league and led his team to the playoffs.
The other has yet to play an NHL game.
Maybe in a few years a comparison can be made but until then it's Price hands down.
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theironmaiden 10 months ago
Spencer you nailed it. Probably best to ask this question in 5 years. I still have the feeling that the fans at the ACC will be chanting "bring back Tukka! bring back Tukka!"....I hope I'm wrong.
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Tyler Hill 10 months ago
We don't need Takka we have Toskala
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MR CONTROVERSY 10 months ago
i don'y know much about pogge but i will say this about price . he did extremely well last year . his over all performace is what got montreal into the playoff. he ran into problems inthe p/o but that wasn't only on him . some goals yes , but not all . def broke down on him plenty of times . taken into account being first time in the p/o he did a very good job. unlike the rangers , i am sure montreal will look at it as this . if it isn't broke don't try to fix it . price is their go to guy . 2 thumbs up ... he def has what it takes. look for montreal to be in the running again this year . differance is , their only better now then last year ... deff cup contenders ... just hope the rangers have what it takes to beat them lol
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Matt Eichel 10 months ago
Thing is about Price letting in soft goals these last playoffs...everyone...I mean EVERYONE forgets the fact that he was playing his brains out for the past two seasons. He's played himself exhausted going into the 2008 playoffs and it showed. If it were him under normal circumstances without all the exhaustion of a gold medal, Calder Cup, and the big-show in Montreal, he'd be fine. He was amazing with the Hamilton Bulldogs in the 2007 Calder Cup playoffs! He can do it again in Montreal too.
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Keith Lundquist 10 months ago
Price is younger and has accomplished more than Pogge. Pogge hasn't won a Calder Cup and Price was drafted higher overall, even though that shouldn't be much of a factor. Overall, i think Price is a better goalie, especially because he has proven himself in the NHL.
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Sylvain Fournier 10 months ago
No Contest ! Price is the man ..., just look at everything he did accomplish so far,and he will just get better. Do you think Pogge can match that ? I have to say that Pogge's futur looks bright, but would not change a good Price for a Pogge !
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Myuran Palasandiran 10 months ago
Pooge - led his team to the Calder Cup Playoffs and sat on the bench the whole time when Scott Clemenson (Brodeur's former backup) led the team in the playoffs. Even in the AHL, the Leafs' brass have to confidence in Pooge.
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