Sunday morning homily XXVIII

In the end, perhaps, it was unfair to compare Montreal's rookie netminder Carey Price to Canadiens legends Ken Dryden and Patrick Roy.

Sure, Price showed glimpses of greatness, leading many of us to think that hockey magic, once again, had been captured in a bottle. Early on, his play and poise started the whispers of his following in those famous footsteps. As the playoffs wore on, however, it became apparent that those comparisons were off-base.

More than anything else, I suppose, it was a weak glove hand that did in the young goalie. A noticeably horrendous effort in Game 3 against Philadelphia was easily exposed and exploited. I found it interesting, too, that Price used a newer catching glove, to no avail, in the series-ending loss last night.

Please know that I'm not piling onto Price at this point. Personally, I believe the kid is going to have a solid career in the NHL. I'm sure, too, that he'll take the Canadiens back to the playoffs many, many times. He is, in my humble estimation, that good.

The lesson I'll take away from his playoff run was the pressure of potential, especially when the spotlight shines on one of hockey's grandest stages. It's not just the comparison to two of hockey's greatest goalies, but to play for and in Montreal, where the game is religion, could easily test the most seasoned of goalies.

Let the kid learn from this experience. He'll have all summer to replay each and every shot that eluded him. It's all part of the learning process. Someday, maybe his name will be mentioned, positively, in the same sentence as Dryden and Roy.

Some things, Montreal fans need to believe, are worth waiting for.

I can hardly wait

Yes, I know I have months to wait before I can resume my hockey-hounding adventures. That didn't keep me, however, from getting ready for next year.

Even though I've yet to file away last year's bounty, I've already added to the stockpile for the 2008-09 season, snagging some AHL team pucks (Norfolk Admirals, Rochester Americans and Springfield Falcons) and prospects card sets.

Other than that, though, I'm going to try to work down my existing inventory. And, yes, get some stuff put away.

Not so fast

It's normal, I suppose, to vote with your heart more often than with your head. Visions of glory silence voices of reason. Idealism trumps realism. Poop, I'm afraid, happens.

Take Montreal's rookie netminder Carey Price, for instance.

When the latest Hound Central 3.0 poll, launched before the second round of the NHL playoffs, asked which player would take home the Conn Smythe Trophy for their efforts as the quest for Lord Stanley's Cup pushes toward summer, Price took an early lead, one that he never relinquished. Of the 39 votes cast, the goalie garnered 15, or 38.5 percent.

Now that his Canadiens are facing elimination at the hands of the Philadelphia Flyers, a position that can be blamed on an apparent weak glove, those hopeful votes cast in his support appear to be in vain. Funny thing, too: The poll allows visitors to change their votes.

As expected, Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby and Washington's Alex Ovechkin, finished tied among voters, each receiving six votes. It further proves, I believe, the lifelong comparison that will follow these two players.

I was a bit surprised that Someone Else, who also received six votes, didn't do better. Given playoff performances by Philly's Martin Biron, Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin, Detroit's Johan Franzen and Chris Osgood, there are plenty of players worthy of consideration.

Question: Which player will win the Conn Smythe Trophy?

Montreal's Carey Price: 15 out of 39 votes cast (38.5 percent)
Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby: 6 out of 39 (15.4 percent)
Washington's Alex Ovechkin: 6 out of 39 (15.4 percent)
Someone else: 6 out of 39 (15.4 percent)
Philadelphia's Danny Briere: 3 out of 39 (7.7 percent)
Pittsburgh's Marc-Andre Fleury: 2 out of 39 (5.1 percent)
San Jose's Evgeni Nabokov: 1 out of 39 (2.5 percent)
Minnesota's Marian Gaborik: No votes

Hockey Word Association 2.2

Among the shiny foil hats, penny-a-piece noisemakers and the overpriced bubbly, I'm sure you can find the time in the year's waning days to play along with this week's player-centric installment.

All you have to do is jot down the first word(s)/phrase that pops into your mind for the following players:

1.) Sidney Crosby =
2.) Thomas Vanek =
3.) Vinny Lecavalier =
4.) Carey Price =
5.) Jason Spezza =

Get him now

It should come as no surprise that Montreal rookie goalie Carey Price drew a ton of attention Thursday as he made his way to and from the team's morning skate.

From glowing reports that he's the next Patrick Roy (we''ll see, I suppose) to the fact that his Young Guns card is fetching princely sums, I took advantage of the opportunity to have him sign a few items.

Despite this good fortune, I'm looking forward to Montreal's next trip to Tampa. Hopefully, I'll have tracked down a 8x10 for the young netminder.

Remember, the sooner you get young players like Price, the better off you'll be. Sometimes, their success goes to their head. Maybe Price will be different, but I won't be taking any chances.

Review: 2007-08 UD Hockey Series I

In past hockey card reviews, I've taken the time to go into great detail to describe a release. In the case of Upper Deck's 2007-08 Hockey Series I, all it takes is one word: junk.

Aside from what I believe to be a lack of value within the boxes I bought, Upper Deck continues its frustrating habit of not updating players who have moved on to new teams. Though one of the lures of this release -- the hobby standard of rookie cards, Young Guns -- shows the players from early season games, several cards show free-agent signings in their old uniforms.

Dustin Penner, shown in his Anaheim duds, signed with Edmonton on Aug. 2. The cards came out in early November. C'mon, now. You're telling me that Upper Deck can't update these looks. If not, how come the Young Guns cards show players from this season?

I know this is redundant, but as someone who has worked, in some form, in the publishing industry since 1980, I know that technological advances allow for images to go from camera to printing plates in under an hour. Why Upper Deck is selective in its efforts is hard to understand.

To me, it's yet another instance of Upper Deck showing more concern for cash than in satisfying its customers. One would think, too, that this line of thinking will eventually come back to haunt them. If you keep disappointing customers, don't you risk turning them away?

It's like I told the owner of the hobby store where I buy my cards. As much as I rely upon cards to continue my hockey-hounding hobby, I have too many other choices -- from pucks to pictures to memorabilia to even homemade team sheets -- to keep wasting my money on Upper Deck products.

Something tells me, too, that I'm not alone.

Product snapshot: Upper Deck Hockey Series I
Something nice: Young Guns cards of Phoenix's Peter Mueller and Montreal's Carey Price (shown above) and a game-used jersey card of Carolina's Eric Staal, which I had him sign. Nice photography, too.
Something not so nice: This product, despite the Young Guns, isn't worth the money.
Puckhound's grade: 0 out of 5 pucks