The Montreal Canadiens’ All-Star goalkeeper Carey Price might not be ready to get back on ice anytime soon. But this doesn’t mean that the 35-year-old player is ready to call the end of his NHL career.
Speaking with reporters on Monday, Price, who is currently out with a knee injury, said that he doesn’t plan to retire “right at this moment” and is just focused on getting better physically.
“We’ll have to take it step by step. I don’t have a plan to retire right at this moment,” said Price. “Right now, my goal is to just be pain-free from day to day. I’m still having some issues getting up and down stairs, and carrying my kids up and down stairs is difficult.”
Price underwent surgery after the 2020-21 NHL season, in which he helped the Canadiens reach the Stanley Cup, to address a lingering knee injury. The plan was for the seven-time All-Star to return in time to start the 2021-22 campaign, but several setbacks prolonged his return for several months. As a result, he ended up playing only five games before being shut down again.
In a recent interview with The Athletic, Price admitted that he would require another, more “intrusive” surgery if he wanted to get back on ice. However, the surgery could significantly affect the quality of his life if unsuccessful, so he isn’t sure whether he’ll get it.
Carey Price spent his entire career with the Canadiens. He played a total of 712 games in the NHL and has a 361-261-79 record. Price has a 2.51 goal against average, a .917 save percentage, and 49 career shutouts.
