Canadiens Coach Provides Status Update on Carey Price

The Montreal Canadiens could be starting the season without goaltender Carey Price. The veteran netminder is slated to return to the ice next week and won't likely be ready for opening night against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct.13.

#Habs Ducharme says Price is projected to return to the ice next Monday: skating, receiving shots, then progressing from there. Ducharme adds that it’s too early to definitively say if Price will be ready for the start of the season. @TSN_Edge

— John Lu (@JohnLuTSNMtl) October 1, 2021

Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme met with the media on Friday and said at this point it's still up in the air and too early to call. The team will need to see a lot of progression from Price over the week and a half he's with the team and if he's not 100% ready to go, they will hold him back and not rush him into action. Price underwent knee surgery in the off-season and this surgery was one of the main reasons why Price is still with the Canadiens and not the starting netminder in Seattle.

Last season in Montreal, Price recorded a 12-7-5 record with a .901 save% and a 2.64GAA. He turned it up in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and was the main reason why the Habs were able to make it to the final, carrying the team with a .924 save%.

Look for Price, if healthy, to have a massive season in Montreal as the team is looking as strong as they have in the past decade and have a legitimate shot at running it back deep into the postseason.

Photo credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports