P.K. Subban praises Carey Price ahead of Hockey Hall of Fame induction

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday, and former teammate P.K. Subban says the honour recognizes more than trophies and highlight moments. In a Hockey Hall of Fame-focused testimonial published by NHL.com, Subban described Price as a game-breaker and difference-maker, framing the induction as a measure of how valuable Price was to his team in his most competitive years.

Subban pointed to the depth of their time together in Montreal, noting that he ranks sixth on the all-time list of players who were teammates of Price, with 341 games played together and 415 games in which Price dressed as a backup. He said their connection went well beyond sharing the same uniform and expectations in front of Canadiens fans, including the teams’ recognizable post-win routine featuring what NHL.com described as a “triple-low-five” glove-slapping sequence.

NHL.com’s account includes details of the relationship Subban and Price developed across major milestones. Subban said he attended Price’s wedding in 2013 and, about a decade later, Price’s retirement party. He also recalled being at the 2014 Sochi Olympics with Team Canada, where Price’s performance anchored Canada’s gold-medal run, describing that experience as part of what made Price’s contributions stand out beyond club hockey.

In the Hockey Hall of Fame testimonial, Subban directly addressed the meaning of the Hall’s selection, saying there are players in the Hall who have won the Stanley Cup and other awards, but that the defining question is “How valuable were you to your team?” He added that, in Price’s most competitive years, he believes Price was a huge part of the success of those Canadiens teams, if not the main reason for it.

Subban also spoke about Price’s ability to connect with people across the locker room and in everyday life. He said that “everybody who walked through the doors of Bell Centre or the practice rink loved Pricey,” and described Price as approachable and easy to talk to. Subban said the “farm” imagery associated with Price is real, and he linked that to how Price could move between conversations about ranch life, hunting and fishing and discussions about hip-hop music and culture.

The testimonial also attributes elements of Price’s character to his family. Subban said he believes Price’s mom, Lynda, and his father, Jerry, helped shape him, and he described Price’s sister, Kayla, as someone with a similar grounded temperament. Subban said these were “not superficial people” and that being around them was enjoyable, describing an off-ice environment that he says supported Price in dealing with the pressures that came with playing for Montreal.

Price’s ability to keep perspective through difficult periods was another theme raised by Subban. He described it as difficult to watch people like Price go through hard times or not receive what he thinks they deserve, but he said those experiences helped Price, in Subban’s view, live his life with his head up regardless of what was happening in his career.

Subban also connected the Hockey Hall of Fame to what athletes do after their playing days. He said the Hall of Fame is about life after hockey as well, pointing to what he described as Price’s example to players coming into the game. In his comments, Subban said a player can have a career with major accolades and national-team appearances, then retire and still have an “amazing life” with family and with respect from peers.

The NHL.com testimonial references Price’s entry into the NHL and the spotlight that followed him in Montreal. Subban recalled watching Price being drafted in 2005 as the No. 5 pick, describing the attention that surrounded him, and he said he did not know another player in his era who faced as much scrutiny. He said cameras and microphones often appeared in front of Price, and when Subban arrived, he said the attention he faced meant he and Price shared the same level of investment in winning.

Alongside the on-ice persona, Subban described Price’s competitiveness and emotional intensity in training and games. He said he has seen Price break his stick and smash it against the wall in the dressing room because of his competitive nature, and he added that fans may not have seen that side during his career. Subban also said that although Price could appear lively with giggles, shoulder shrugs and a wink, he was as much a competitor as anyone and he said he has seen Price get rattled.

Subban characterized Price’s conduct toward others as consistently respectful. He referenced late Canadiens captain Jean Beliveau as a model of gentlemanly behaviour and said he believes Price was also a gentleman to everyone, adding that he has never seen Price be mean to a person.

The testimonial also placed Price’s path within the broader challenge of being a young goaltender under constant evaluation. Subban argued that the Canadiens may not see a goaltender talked about as much as Price again until someone wins a Stanley Cup in the city, and he said nobody would be prepared for the microscope faced by Price as a young professional in Montreal. He used that context to say he views Price’s ability to handle it and perform as remarkable.

As part of the pre-induction narrative, Subban emphasized the pressure fans know players face and said Price’s performances, in his view, were both entertaining and resilient. He said Price was “box office” each time he was in the net, including when, in Subban’s description, Price didn’t play well because he believed he could bounce back, and he framed that as part of what makes Price a Hall of Famer.

Subban concluded with reflections on balance near the end of Price’s career and what induction means for him personally. He said induction would not change Price, and described gratitude that Price will be able to enjoy the moment with his family, adding that he feels fortunate Price is around to see his name enter the Hall and to celebrate that with his wife, kids and family for the rest of his life.

The Hockey Hall of Fame induction Monday will cap a long Canadiens career for Price, with Subban’s testimony underlining how their shared seasons in Montreal combined on-ice partnership, major international moments with Team Canada, and, in Subban’s description, a sustained connection with people far beyond the arena.