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The Montreal Canadiens will be without Carey Price to start the 2021-22 NHL season after the announcement Thursday morning that the goalie will be taking indefinite leave to participate in the NHLPA Player Assistance Program.
No other details or timing of his return have been revealed.
The Player Support Program was founded in 1996 as a resource for players and their families to seek help with issues such as addiction and mental health, giving them access to counselors in every city. of the NHL.
Price, who underwent knee surgery in the offseason to repair a torn meniscus, had been absent from all of training camp at this point due to what was reported on Wednesday as a non-COVID illness and was already due to be missed the start of the regular season.
In anticipation of that, the Canadiens claimed goaltender Sam Montembeault on waivers from the Florida Panthers on Sunday as a form of insurance, pushing the 24-year-old straight into pre-season action against the Maple Leafs immediately the next day.
With Price now out for the foreseeable future, Montembeault could well be part of the opening night of the Canadiens roster.
The road has not been easy for Price in recent seasons. The 34-year-old has been ravaged by injuries since 2015-16, starting just 25 games in 2021 while battling various illnesses or completely running out of time on several occasions before. With him voluntarily entering the Player Support Program, however, there is clearly something more at stake here. And out of respect for Price and his family, it’s important not to speculate on what it is.
All the hockey world can do now is congratulate Price on his bravery in asking for help with whatever ails him and wish him a speedy recovery.
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