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Veteran goalie Carey Price was given the opportunity to announce his team’s first round draft pick in the 2023 NHL Draft on Tuesday. Unfortunately, he failed miserably.
The Montreal Canadiens had the fifth selection on draft night, snagging defenseman David Reinbacher with their top choice. To showcase a player that’s spent his entire career with the franchise, the team turned the mic over Price.
While attempting to read off the first pick, he either couldn’t pronounce the last name or he forget the player altogether.
“David… [awkward pause]???” The blank stare on his face only made things worse.
Stage fright? Nerves? Both are certainly possibilities. Whatever the case, the result was a hilarious viral moment.
NHL fans and media have been quick to post reactions to the botched draft announcement on social media.
Carey Price just forgot the last name of the Canadiens’ pick 😂pic.twitter.com/Aiivn4AlBd
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) June 28, 2023
The suspense was agonizing.
everyone named David in Bridgestone Arena when Carey Price announced the Canadians pick pic.twitter.com/qoYaMSAnSA
— Nick Melanson (@nickmelanson_) June 28, 2023
CAREY PRICE NOOOOOOOOO pic.twitter.com/UvzVLm7YZ1
— NickMan (@BrokenNickMan16) June 28, 2023
“Carey Price had absolutely NO CLUE who the Habs were taking at No. 5,” one account said.
“Carey Price had an opportunity to do the funniest thing possible and he TOOK it,” another tweet read.
Carey Price trying to pronounce David Reinbacher’s name https://t.co/vXof5ugTMY
— Mr Booth (@MrBooth07) June 28, 2023
carey price trying to remember david reinbacher’s name pic.twitter.com/P9hoFrfCgb
— xavier (@dicnowder) June 28, 2023
Luckily, Canadiens GM Kent Hughes came in for the save, no pun intended. He’d finish the announcement to keep Carey Price from any further embarrassment.
“We planned it that way,” Hughes said before wrapping up the choice.
Reinbacher will hope to help out a team that finished 31-45-6 last season to finish 8th in the Atlantic Division.