Pat Price (ice hockey)

Shaun Patrick "Pat " Price ( born March 24, 1955 in Nelson, British Columbia ) is a retired Canadian ice hockey player (defender), who from 1974 to 1988 for the New York Islanders, Edmonton Oilers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Quebec Nordiques, New York Rangers and Minnesota North Stars played in the National Hockey League and the Vancouver Blazers in the World Hockey Association.

Career

As a junior at the Saskatoon Blades in the Western Canada Hockey League, he was the dominant junior counsel of his own time. Not infrequently, they named him as the next Bobby Orr.

To become aware of him, it was the Vancouver Blazers, who selected him in the WHA Amateur Draft in 1974 with the first draft law of the first round. Because of the age restriction, Price was approved for NHL Amateur Draft until the following year. The Blazers tried it as quickly as possible to oblige and offered him a 1.3 million dollars, incredibly well-endowed for a rookie contract he could not refuse.

Even before the season he participated in the training camp of the WHA All-Stars in part for the Summit Series in 1974, but could not prevail for the squad at the games against the Soviet Union. In the WHA he had due to his early praise a regular place but failed across the board, because he could not satisfy approximately the expectations placed in him.

In the NHL Amateur Draft 1975 it chose the New York Islanders in the first round of the eleventh. For the Blazers it was happy because of his expensive contract that he moved to New York. His performance was not enough to prevail in the NHL in the 1975/76 season. Only four games he played this year for the Islanders and played mostly for the Fort Worth Texans in the Central Hockey League. After four years with the Islanders, who were unsatisfactory for both sides and led to a series of disputes with the coach Al Arbour, Price described the years as lost time and asked for a change. This desire came the Edmonton Oilers before because they took him in the NHL Expansion Draft in 1979 by the Islanders.

Just two seasons he remained with the Oilers before he moved to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Amidst the 1982/83 season, he transferred to the Quebec Nordiques. Shortly after his move, he had major health problems. Through a viral disease triggered a life-threatening encephalitis plagued him (brain inflammation). After surviving the disease he had the soundest time in his career. At the end of his career he moved into the 1986/87 season for 19 games with the New York Rangers before these charges him in exchange for Willi Plett to the Minnesota North Stars. During these years he also played time and again in the farm team at the Fredericton Express of the American Hockey League and the Kalamazoo Wings of the International Hockey League.

If you include the playoffs, so denied Price 800 games in the NHL. He was a solid defender in his 13 seasons. The expectations he had aroused due to his outstanding performance as a junior, but he was able to confirm at any time in his career.

NHL stats

Sporting successes

Personal Awards

• WCHL All-Star First Team: 1974
• Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy: 1974