There are many excellent goalies in the NHL, but who is the toughest to play against?
According to nine prospects at the NHLPA Rookie Showcase in Toronto, there were a handful of choices, with Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price leading the way.
"When he's at his best, he doesn't allow a lot of goals," Buffalo Sabres center Rasmus Asplund (No. 33, 2016 NHL Draft) said. "I think he's one of the better goalies in the NHL."
Price, who missed significant time because of injuries in two of the past three seasons, led the NHL in wins (44), goals-against average (1.93) and save percentage (.933) in 2014-15. That season, he won the Vezina Trophy (best goaltender) and Hart Trophy (most valuable player).
"He's such a big boy (6-foot-3, 215 pounds) in the net and makes the game look so easy," Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk (No. 4, 2018 NHL Draft) said.
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Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard (No. 10, 2018 draft) and Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen (No. 3, 2017 NHL Draft) also chose Price.
"He'll be in one spot and then before the puck moves to the next spot, he's already there," Bouchard said.
Sabres center Casey Mittelstadt (No. 8, 2017 draft) and Chicago Blackhawks forward Dylan Sikura (No. 178, 2014 NHL Draft) chose Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne, who went 42-13-4 with a 2.31 GAA, .927 save percentage, eight shutouts and won the Vezina last season.
"I have to go with Pekka Rinne," Sikura said. "Vezina Trophy winner, best goalie in the League this year, he's a big guy (6-5, 217). Hopefully I can pot one on him."
Islanders forward Kieffer Bellows (No. 19, 2016 draft) chose two-time Stanley Cup champion (2012, 2014) and Conn Smythe Trophy winner (2012) Jonathan Quick of the Los Angeles Kings.
"He makes some miraculous saves," Bellows said. "He's so good positionally, but he's so athletic, too, so he can get across the crease. You see some of the saves he makes whether he's down on his back or on his stomach, he never gives up on the play."
Two other goalies received votes: Florida Panthers center Henrik Borgstrom (No. 23, 2016 draft) was the only player to choose two-time Vezina winner (2013, 2017) Sergei Bobrovsky of the Columbus Blue Jackets; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Timothy Liljegren (No. 17, 2017 draft) picked Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
RESULTS
Price (4); Rinne (2); Vasilevskiy (1); Quick (1); Bobrovsky (1)
NHL.com correspondent Dave McCarthy contributed to this report
