MONTREAL 鈥� While Carey Price faced a series of challenges since the 2021 Stanley Cup final that kept him off the ice and away from his teammates, the star goaltender knows he wants to keep blocking shots for the Montreal Canadiens in the near future.聽
Price spoke to reporters on Sunday for the first time since the Canadiens lost in the final to the Tampa Bay Lightning.聽
He says there have been "unforeseen setbacks" as he's worked his way back from off-season knee surgery, and while the process has been frustrating, he's continuing to move forward.聽
He says his goal is to play NHL hockey this season.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a big part of my identity,鈥� Price said. 鈥淏eing a goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens has been my life for over a decade.
鈥淓nding the season on such a disappointing note last year, I just want to be able to get back in there, continue playing and to be able to put that sweater on again. It鈥檚 something that鈥檚 keeping me motivated at this point.鈥�
The 34-year-old skated in full equipment Saturday and Sunday but has not played a game since the Habs lost Game 5 of the Stanley Cup final on July 7.
The former Hart and Vezina Trophy winner underwent knee surgery following the Stanley Cup run.
Price says the next few weeks will most probably 鈥渄etermine the rest of my season.鈥�
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I鈥檓 a little bit anxious for the next couple of weeks, it鈥檚 going to be interesting to see how my knee responds,鈥� said Price. 鈥淚鈥檓 hoping for the best. I obviously want this to go well and if I have another setback, I鈥檓 just gonna start over again. That鈥檚 the only option that I have.鈥�
Price also spoke about his decision to voluntarily enter the NHL's player assistance program last fall, saying he's "very thankful" for the help he received. He has previously said he entered the league's program for substance abuse.
Price added that he was 鈥渢remendously grateful鈥� for the outpour of support from the hockey world and fans following his decision to enter the program.
鈥淚鈥檝e had quite the journey at the start of the season,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t would have been a lot more difficult if I hadn鈥檛 had such a warm sense of encouragement from everyone.鈥�
That decision to enter the program forced Price to pause injury rehabilitation.
鈥淚 was in a position where I definitely needed to reach out and it was a trying time for sure,鈥� he said. 鈥淎t the end of the day it was one (decision) that needed to be made and ultimately it was one that was successful and I'm very thankful for the help that I got.鈥�
The Canadiens have struggled without their superstar goalie and sit at the bottom of the NHL standings with a 8-28-7 record heading into Sunday night's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets in Montreal.
While he said that he doesn鈥檛 know the odds for his return, his goal remains to be between the pipes in a Habs uniform this season.
鈥淚t鈥檚 always been my goal ever since I got back here. Obviously I鈥檝e had a couple of setbacks that weren鈥檛 foreseen. It鈥檚 been a frustrating process, no doubt, but at the end of the day I gotta take care of it and I鈥檓 moving forward.
鈥淚鈥檓 starting to skate again so hopefully I鈥檒l keep on progressing and I鈥檒l be able to get back in a uniform pretty soon.鈥�
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 30, 2022.
The Canadian Press
