This season, Price compiled a 37-20-5 record in 62 regular-season appearances between the pipes, helping pace the Canadiens to an Atlantic Division title. He finished the year tied for fourth in the League in wins, and tied for sixth in both goals-against average (2.23) and save percentage (.923), in addition to posting three shutouts. He also earned his fifth trip to the NHL All-Star Game, and continued to cement his place in team history by surpassing Hall-of-Famer Ken Dryden to take over sole possession of third spot on the franchise's all-time wins list (270).
Coming out on top in each of his first 10 outings to begin the season - and making NHL history in the process - certainly helped in that regard.
And, Price did all of that after backstopping Team Canada to a World Cup of Hockey crown in September.
Not too shabby for a goaltender who played just 12 games in 2015-16 due to injury.
Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned come playoff time, which left a somewhat bitter taste in his mouth heading into the summer.
"It's mixed feelings. Whenever you don't achieve your goal, it's disappointing," said Price, who posted a 2-4 record in the Canadiens' opening-round postseason series loss to the New York Rangers, despite compiling a sparkling 1.86 GAA. "You have to give the other team credit. They played pretty well defensively. Hank [Henrik Lundqvist] played well. I think we all just needed to find a little bit more to give. That would've been the difference."
Like the rest of his teammates, Price obviously had high hopes entering the series with New York given everything the club had accomplished between mid-October and early April. He saw a group primed to make some serious noise at the most critical point of the season, so when it came time for everyone to pack their gear up after just six games and head their separate ways, it definitely hurt.