With a shortened season, a grueling schedule and a higher risk of injury than usual, a watchword comes up regularly among teams this season: rest.
And with the Montreal Canadiens, that’s good. The acquisition of Jake Allen will allow CH to rest Carey Price so that he is at the top of his game.
“Jake Allen is going to make Carey Price a better goalie just because of the rest he gets between starts,” said Stéphane Waite in an interview with Louis Jean on our special on the start of next season.
“Carey will say it first: rest is the weapon. The rest is enormous and in his case it is true. In a sprint of the same, he will not have to spare himself. “
The coach of the goalkeepers of the CH does not hide it. For the first time, the Montreal team will have the luxury of resting Price.
“With Jake’s presence, we established a schedule where [Carey Price] should be fresh every time. There will be ups and downs, but I expect a good season from Carey. ”
Last season, Price played 58 games (out of 71) and 66 in 2018-19.
“He was mortgaged physically and also in terms of fatigue. We used it more than we would like and if it goes well this year it won’t, ”said Waite.
Allen is ready
The former St-Louis Blues goalie arrives in the role of reserve goalie, but his work on the ice indicates that he is not in Montreal as a tourist.
“He reminds me a lot of Carey and Corey Crawford. He looks so calm, he’s got the perfect character to do this job. What impresses me about Jake is his effort in the practices, he does not want to leave the rink, ”said Waite.
The 2019 Stanley Cup champion also brings a different style to Price’s, which his coach really likes.
“He has a lot of things in his style that are different from Carey and that I respect that. He had a good season last year playing that style and I don’t want to change what is working well. ”
And like any good coach, Waite has noted a few small improvements the keeper can make this season.
“Yes there are small tweaks that we watched on video. For now, he agrees 100% with what I offered him. “
See Stéphane Waite’s interview in the video above.
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