For four years or so, at his peak, Price was probably the best goalie I've ever seen (OK, best after Roy in 1993; but I question whether even Roy had such a sustained run of sublime play). His level of control was extraordinary; he was so far ahead of the curve that he would routinely use deflections in order to angle the puck to his D-men in such a way as to start the transition. He barely seemed to move and yet he was in complete control.
The complication is that Price has not been that guy. 2017-18 was the big drop-off and since then he's kind of bobbed around, having good stretches and not-so-good.
He's akin to a forward who had about four seasons of scoring, like, 150 points and terrorizing the league, and then settles into being a mere PPG guy. What do you do with him, in terms of historical legacy? Is he one of the all-time greats, or not?
I think if Price wins a Cup, the debate is settled and he will go down as an all-time great Hab. If he doesn't, he will still go down as a great, but not in the first rank. I still say his number will be retired, because he is a guaranteed Hall of Famer and because he is the only Hab to even touch genuine greatness since Roy.