The career of a professional athlete gives him moments of great excitement, but he must not forget that there is life after this one.
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This is the essence of the message transmitted by Carey Price in a rare media appearance, held this afternoon, in Brossard.
“Currently, I don’t have a retirement plan. For the moment, what matters to me is that I no longer feel pain in my everyday life,” said the 35-year-old athlete.
“Once that’s done, I can start thinking about training like a professional athlete again,” he continued.
Several times during the press briefing, the winningest goaltender in the history of the Canadiens (361 wins in the regular season) mentioned the need to be in good health to be able to play with his three children or walk with the one of them in his arms.
New operation?
To achieve this, Price would have to undergo another surgery, much more intrusive according to his explanations. An operation that would involve removing a bone and cartilage plug from another area of his right knee, then inserting it into the damaged portion.
“The success rate is less than 50%,” said Price, who has met with three doctors so far. I have spoken to people who have had this type of operation. It took them over a year to recover. »
Photo QMI Agency, Thierry Laforce
Canadian goaltender Carey Price told reporters on Monday in Brossard that he hopes he won’t have pain in his right knee on a daily basis.
And it’s not about human beings whose knees are under the same stress as a goalkeeper’s.
In search of a miracle
In fact, when asked by a colleague if the collision with Chris Kreider in the 2014 Eastern Conference Finals had been the source of this recurring problem, Price chose to go much further back.
“It probably started when I was 8 [quand il a commencé à garder les buts], he launched, smirking. It is a very demanding position. I suffered ankle, hip and back injuries. It’s an accumulation of all these years. »
“But if I had to do it again, I would do exactly the same thing,” he added.
It will therefore take a “miracle”, to use his own words, for Price to be able to put on his big pads again in an NHL game.
“I have always been optimistic. I do not give up. Besides, I always cherish the dream of winning a Stanley Cup, regardless of the position in which I will be,” he mentioned, hinting at a possible interest in the coaching.
” It’s frustrating “
If that should be the end of broadcasts, number 31 will have kept its last game, April 29, in a convincing 10-2 victory for Montreal against the Florida Panthers. That evening, he had taken the trouble to greet his children seated in the bleachers, even though the game was taking place near his net.
Photo QMI Agency, Thierry Laforce
It was one of only five games he played last season, after helping the Habs reach the Stanley Cup Final nearly a decade earlier.
“Leaving the Stanley Cup final to be sitting here today is frustrating,” he admitted. This is not the situation I had imagined. I experienced a roller coaster of emotions. Luckily, I had the support of my spouse and my children. »
” It’s passing quickly “
Roller coasters, he will also have seen several during his 15-season career with the Habs.
“I can’t believe how quickly it went. I envy the young players, those who arrive, because the NHL has never been as good as it is now. »
No, Price wouldn’t confirm that it was time to retire. However, he seemed calm in the face of this possibility.