Henrik Lundqvist vs. Carey Price: Who Would You Take in Their Prime?
When it comes to elite goaltending over the past two decades, two names rise above the rest: Henrik Lundqvist and Carey Price. Both men defined excellence in the crease, earned Vezina Trophies, and carried their teams through seasons where lesser goalies would have faltered. But if you had to choose one goalie in their prime, who would it be?
Let’s break it down.
The King’s Consistency
Henrik Lundqvist, affectionately known as “The King,” built a career on dependability. From his rookie year in 2005 through much of the next decade, Lundqvist posted elite numbers for the New York Rangers. He had a .920+ save percentage in eight of his first nine seasons, frequently facing high shot volumes behind defensively inconsistent teams.
What made Lundqvist exceptional was his unshakable poise and uncanny ability to come up big in pressure moments. He led the Rangers to the Stanley Cup Final in 2014 and was consistently brilliant in Game 7s, where he posted a remarkable 6–2 record with a 0.96 GAA and .968 save percentage. Though he never won the Cup, few goalies were as reliably excellent over such a long stretch.
Price’s Peak
Carey Price, meanwhile, is often described as the most technically sound goaltender of his era. At his peak, particularly in the 2014–15 season, he was simply untouchable. That year, Price won the Hart Trophy, Vezina Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award, and Jennings Trophy—essentially everything a goalie could win. He led the league with a 1.96 GAA and a .933 save percentage.
Price’s calm demeanor and technical mastery made difficult saves look routine. He also shined on the international stage, backstopping Team Canada to gold at the 2014 Winter Olympics and 2016 World Cup of Hockey with near-flawless performances.
Choosing between Lundqvist and Price is splitting hairs. Lundqvist was the more consistent regular-season performer over a longer period, while Price’s peak—when healthy—was arguably higher than any goaltender since Dominik Hasek.
If the question is who you’d take for a full decade of steady, elite goaltending, Lundqvist might be the safer pick. But if you needed one goalie at his absolute best for a playoff run, it’s hard to look past Price’s dominance when healthy and locked in.
So, who would you take? If you value consistency and leadership night after night, you might lean Lundqvist. If you believe in peak performance and technical supremacy, Price might be your guy. Either way, you’re getting a Hall-of-Fame netminder—and ashot at winning it all.
