Canadiens' Price, Hoffman, Byron fail physicals at training camp

Sportsnet Staff @SportsnetSeptember 23, 2021 - 3:10pm

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price warms up before the first period in Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Wednesday, June 30, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (Gerry Broome / AP)

The Montreal Canadiens announced Thursday that five players, including goaltender Carey Price (knee) and forwards Mike Hoffman (lower-body) and Paul Byron (hip) have failed their physicals due to injury, and will most likely be out for at least the remainder of training camp.

Price underwent knee surgery in July, but is skating and expected to be ready for the start of the 2021-22 NHL season when the Canadiens take on the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 13, according to head coach Dominique Ducharme.

Carey Price devrait être prêt à disputer le premier match de la saison.

Carey Price is expected to be ready to play the first game of the season.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/wZdnPqs0iq

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) September 23, 2021

Hoffman, on the other hand, is “doubtful” to play opening night, according to Ducharme. He injured himself skating before arriving in Montreal and is set to undergo further testing but will not require surgery. The left winger signed with the Canadiens this off-season on a three-year, $13.5-million deal.

Dominique Ducharme indique que Mike Hoffman (bas du corps) représente un cas douteux pour le début de la saison.

Dominique Ducharme says Mike Hoffman (lower body) could miss the start of the season.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/fcQNEvldMO

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) September 23, 2021

Byron underwent surgery on an injured hip in July, and was expected to be out for five months.

Defenceman Joel Edmundson skated Thursday and is listed as day-to-day. Ducharme says he’ll be back in regular practice soon.

Forward Brendan Gallagher is absent to start camp due to family reasons and is expected to report this weekend.

Prospects Josh Brook and Joel Teasdale are also out with knee injuries.

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