Price to return to Canadiens from NHL's player assistance program on Monday

November 05, 2021 - 1:56pm

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price. (Graham Hughes/CP)

Carey Price is preparing to return to the Montreal Canadiens.

Habs head coach Dominique Ducharme has confirmed that the superstar goalie will rejoin the team on Monday.

Ducharme said on Friday that Price will meet with athletic therapists and develop a plan moving forward.

It's going to be a process for Price–starting with a physical, moving on to gym work, getting back on the ice solo with the goalie coach before eventually joining practice. Asked Ducharme if a short stint in Laval might be a part of it, he said it's an option they'll consider.

— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) November 5, 2021

Price voluntarily entered the NHL’s player assistance program on Oct. 7.

The assistance program, jointly run by the league and the NHL Players’ Association, helps players and their families with mental health, substance abuse and other matters.

No official reason was given as to why Price was entering the program, but his wife Angela cited mental health in an Instagram post when the news first broke that he would miss the start of the season.

Price was also recovering from off-season knee surgery when training camp began.

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“He’s coming off a surgery, so we’ve got to see where he’s at with that,” Ducharme said. “And then from there I think it’s gym, then on the ice by himself, then with the goalie coach, with shooters, with the team.

“So there’s a buildup for sure, and the timeline, it’s tough to go deep and really have a plan.”

Ducharme said it’s possible Price might have a conditioning stint with the American Hockey League’s Laval Rocket before returning to action with the Canadiens. Price played briefly with the Rocket late last season after recovering from a concussion.

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“We’re going to take a look at everything we can do to get him ready to play,” Ducharme said.

Price has a career record of 360-257-79, with a 2.50 goals-against average and .917 save percentage with 49 shutouts.

The 34-year-old Price was instrumental in Montreal’s run to the Stanley Cup final last season, where they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games.

The Canadiens host the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday, the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday, and the Calgary Flames on Thursday.

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