Carey Price | A declaration of love for hockey

“I don’t think there’s a young player who wouldn’t sacrifice everything to end up here. It is part of the price to pay. I paid it. If I had to do it over again, would I do it again? You know very well that yes. »

Simon Olivier Lorange
The Press

We expected to hear him talk about his knee. Of his rehabilitation, of a possible operation, of the specter of retirement. It obviously happened. But it is above all a declaration of love for his sport that Carey Price delivered on Monday morning.

Speaking to members of the Montreal media for more than 20 minutes, the Canadiens’ star goaltender testified, with an openness and candor rarely seen in this athlete capable of being cold, how much he misses hockey.

He obviously misses the competition, but also the time spent at the arena, laughing with his teammates while chatting about everything and nothing. Still in rehabilitation following knee surgery over a year ago, he still gravitates around the team, but he is careful not to impose himself.

He does not want to monopolize the “resources of the club”, especially not at the expense of active players. “They work hard every day with the therapists, I wouldn’t want to hinder their progress,” he said.

He still has his close friends in the team, but he also sees new faces multiplying. He gradually learns to know them, again without rushing anything. “I want to respect their space,” he says, almost modestly.

In reality, he would really like to be in their place, especially the younger ones.

Did he play, on April 29, the last match of his career? Maybe. Certainly, in fact. His medical records suggest yes. Operated on a knee in July 2021, a few days after transporting his team to the Stanley Cup final, he spent the entire last season in rehabilitation. After two regressions, he was finally able to increase the pace in training and play five games at the very end of the calendar.

His knee didn’t respond the way he wanted it to. The swelling never stopped. Neither does the pain. He feels it every time he goes up or down the stairs at home, even more so when he has one of his three children in his arms.

Goodbye

Without going so far as to say goodbye, he sends an inevitable goodbye to the fans, to his team and to hockey. “It’s something you have to take the time to digest. I haven’t completely done it yet,” he admits.

Price is not fooled: it would take some sort of “miracle” for him to play again.

Over the past year, three medical experts have converged on the same conclusion: it is probably a new operation that would give him the best chance of seeing an NHL rink again.

The operation in question, however, is far from attractive. The goalkeeper says it gently at first: “I’m not crazy about this option. Then bluntly: “It scares me. »

What would await him, if he took this avenue, is an “osteochondral autograft”, better known by its English acronym OAT, which would consist of grafting pieces of bone and cartilage taken from a healthy part of his knee. A recent article from the Athletic site explained the procedure in detail.

This operation is too “intrusive” for the taste of the goalkeeper, in view of his chances of success, in particular. Citing an American study, the Athletic article speaks of a 72% reduction in patients who have already undergone surgery – which is exactly the case for Price. And again, this is the possibility of finding a so-called “normal” daily life, not that of an NHL goalkeeper finding all his ease in front of his net. In a press briefing, Price instead spoke of probabilities approaching 50%.

“It means that there is a 50% risk that it will not work”, he decided. Especially since he is already dealing with the consequences of old injuries to his ankles, hips and back.

In his eyes, the game is not worth the candle at this point, especially since the pain is manageable enough to face his daily life as a father. “Being able to continue playing with my children is the most important thing for me. No question, therefore, of risking losing this achievement.

Positive

Nevertheless, it is not in his plans, “at the moment”, to retire. “We’re going to take it step by step,” he insisted.

Despite the “frustration” that a hitherto unsuccessful re-education has given him, he is staying the course. Having consulted a few people who have undergone the same operation as him, he notes that it is not uncommon for rehabilitation to take more than a year. He therefore continued his treatments dreaming of a cure. Maybe he’ll get another injection of platelet-rich plasma, like he did over the summer.

“I’ve always been optimistic,” he said. I want to focus on the positive in my life. “Spending time with family, discovering Quebec “outside Brossard and downtown”, especially in the fall, his favorite season – the hunting season. He is fully aware, despite the circumstances, of his privileged status.

He also discovers a new life “outside the bubble” of the NHL. In 15 years of career with the Canadian, he has never been so visible in the public space. He was spotted with his wife at the recent game the Toronto Raptors played at the Bell Centre. Last weekend, at the invitation of the Montreal Alouettes, he went to Percival-Molson Stadium with his children. His eldest, Liv, then served as his “personal assistant” by bringing him balloons given to him by supporters to have them autographed.

Price, in addition, himself spoke in a video posted on the Canadian’s Instagram account, to invite the public to the organization’s blood drive. Moreover, he indicated that Geneviève Paquette, vice-president responsible for community engagement at the Habs, had plans for him.

So many clues that resemble the routine of a retired athlete. But he’s not ready to say goodbye yet.

He still hasn’t given up on the dream of winning the Stanley Cup. What is intriguing, however, is to hear him today add: “it doesn’t matter in what role”.

Will it be in a suit and tie or in goalkeeper equipment? On the ice or behind the bench? He himself does not know yet.

His dearest wish, however, is quite clear.

His hope, as slim as it is, has not been extinguished. And this, despite all the pain he feels.

If that ain’t love, that…