Would Carey Price have played his last match in the tricolor uniform? The Montreal Canadiens’ star goaltender did nothing to dispel any doubt about that on Sunday night.
Price, 34, is struggling with a knee injury and hasn’t played a game since July 7. While reiterating his desire to return to the game this season, the goalkeeper agreed that it was still too early to decide on his future.
” We never know. There is always a possibility [que je ne puisse plus jamais jouer]. The next few weeks will be very busy, and they will determine the rest of my season. I’m obviously a little anxious about getting answers. So I don’t know at the moment, but we will find out very soon, ”said the man who spoke to the media for the first time in six months.
As for what worries him the most, Carey Price admitted that it was the fear that he would be unable to return to the same level of performance as before.
I have to follow the process [de rééducation] and hope that when I’m back on the ice, with the guys, I can play at the same level as before
“It crossed my mind. When you suffer an injury like this, and the rehabilitation is slowed down as it was, then you always have a doubt in your head. That’s what suffering from an injury is when you’re a professional athlete. But the medical team here is amazing, and they offer the best chance of successful rehabilitation. I have to go through the process and hope that when I get back on the ice, with the guys, I can play at the same level as before,” Price said.
The noh 31 hasn’t played since losing 1-0 to the Tampa Bay Lightning to seal their five-game Stanley Cup win last summer. A difficult period to live, he recognized.
“I knew this would probably be the end for ‘Webs’ [Shea Weber], and I was very sad for him. I knew that I was going to be operated on during the summer season. But at the time, I didn’t think about it, because I was caught up in the present moment. It was very hard mentally for everyone, even if it was very pleasant [comme aventure], but we felt a huge void at the end,” Price said.
“I knew a lot of things would happen over the summer,” he added. Then, as agreed, the star goalkeeper had knee surgery. At the time, his recovery was estimated at 10 to 12 weeks.
Subsequently, the former general manager of the Canadian Marc Bergevin announced in October that the goalkeeper had to be absent for a period of at least 30 days in order to recover his mental health. Carey Price then submitted to the NHL Player Assistance Program due to substance abuse. Without going into details, Price still wanted to address this subject.
“It was very difficult, but in the end I knew I had to make this decision [de me soumettre au programme d’aide]. And it was successful. I am very grateful for the help I received,” he said, thanking the fans, his teammates, the organization and those close to him.
Earlier this month, the Canadiens announced that Price had to start his rehabilitation from scratch due to the club’s recent shutdown due to COVID-19. In addition to this mandatory stoppage, Price himself contracted the coronavirus, which slowed down his rehabilitation on all fronts. Hard knocks, but which did not affect his desire to return to the game.
“I can’t wait to find out how my knee will react in a few weeks. I hope everything will go well, but if my rehabilitation is delayed again, then I will start it again. It’s the only option I have left,” he said.
The winner of the Vézina Trophy awarded to the NHL’s goaltender par excellence in 2015 trained for about twenty minutes on the ice rink at the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard on Sunday morning, after having done so for about 10 minutes the day before.
In addition, the in-depth overhaul of the organization by owner Geoff Molson was discussed with Carey Price.
The dismissal of Bergevin on November 29, followed by the hiring of Jeff Gorton as vice-president of hockey, and the recent hiring of Kent Hughes as general manager of the organization, could have an impact on the future of the star goaltender in Montreal. The main interested party reiterated his desire to play for the Bleu-blanc-rouge, without however being categorical.
“My family and I are very happy here. It is here with us. The reason I signed a contract [avec le Canadien] and accepted a no-trade clause, it was to stay here. For the moment, I have no intention of moving,” he said.
The Anahim Lake, BC player spent his entire 14-season NHL career with the Habs. Price is also 360-257-79 with a 2.50 GAA and .917 save percentage on the Bettman League season.