Price: Soaking in the All-Star experience

TAMPA - There are a couple of All-Star traditions Carey Price plans on keeping alive during his sixth trip to the NHL's mid-season classic.

"I always usually get my jersey signed by everybody. I usually swap sticks with a couple of the other goalies. I usually don't leave with any of my own sticks," cracked Price, who met the media on Saturday morning at Tampa's Grand Hyatt Hotel ahead of this evening's Skills Competition at Amalie Arena. "Trading them for brownie points or cutting some deals, maybe, for the next [All-Star] game."
It's the social aspect of the All-Star experience that Price really appreciates most.
"You can get a far left and a far right guy sitting together in a room and they have nothing in common, and they can talk shop about goaltending," said Price, who flew to Florida on Friday with his wife Angela and 20-month-old daughter Liv. "It's something special to watch."

This year, Price is hoping to enjoy a productive chat with his Atlantic Division teammate - Tampa Bay Lightning starter Andrei Vasilevskiy.
The 11-year NHL veteran is a big fan of the way that the 23-year-old netminder goes about his business in between the pipes.
"I don't know him at all, but I know his game. He plays really well. Very athletic. Obviously, he's having a great season," praised Price. "He's playing with a lot of confidence. He's a pretty outstanding goaltender."
No doubt Vasilevskiy will be looking to pick Price's brain as well after earning his first All-Star nod.
Price, of course, is no stranger to these gatherings, which has him feeling perfectly at ease and relaxed in the Sunshine State.
"I think I know what to expect. I'm just trying to enjoy everything and take it in as well as possible. I think you definitely feel more comfortable the more of these you go to," mentioned Price. "You know more players. I think everybody knows who you are."

Everybody on-site definitely knows who Liv is, too, after Price took her out for a spin around the ice last year at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.
As of Saturday morning, the 30-year-old Anahim Lake, BC native was still debating whether or not an encore was in store before the Skills Competition gets underway at 7:00 p.m. EST.
"I don't have a plan yet," said Price. "She does enjoy getting rides with dad on the ice, though."