Price likely to miss season due to injury

*Photo from Sportsnet*

   It appears that another great career in the NHL may be coming to an end. Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price is unlikely to play this season due to more nagging knee injuries, according to Arpon Basu of The Athletic.

   Canadiens GM Kent Hughes said of Price that "This summer he went through the process of a shot to the knee seeing if that would help. It did not, and at this point, we don't expect Carey to be available for the start of this season. Quite frankly, I don't know that there's a path for Carey to return this season through the rehab process."

   After helping lead the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup Final in the shortened 2021 season, Price underwent knee surgery that summer to address an injury. While rehabbing, he spent time in the NHLPA player assistance program. After lots of rehab and conditioning, Price appeared in 5 games toward the end of last season, recording a .878 save percentage and 3.63 GAA. Price said previously he didn't think his knee would ever allow him to play a full season again, and said he might have played his last game.

   When the 2022-2023 season begins, Price will be on the 5th season of a 8 year, $84 million extension he signed with Montreal prior to the 2018-2019 season, He has a cap hit of $10.5 million a season, and has a full no movement clause for all 8 seasons of the deal, which expires after the 2025-2026 season.

   Hughes continued on, saying that "I've mentioned before that we were kind of in a gray area with Carey in terms of knowing whether he'd be able to play or not, and unfortunately it's not a determination that we can make. We had to let time take its course. At this point in time, the news in terms of Carey's knee is pretty discouraging in the sense that there hasn't been any improvement."

   Price has spent his entire 15 years in the NHL with the Canadiens. Over that time, he has a 361-261-79 record with a 2.51 GAA and .917 save percentage, notching 49 shutouts in 700 starts and 12 relief outings. He has a 2.39 GAA and .919 save percentage in 89 career playoff starts and 3 relief outings.

   The 15 seasons Price has spent in the NHL have been stellar ones. He was selected by the Canadiens in the first round, with the 5th overall pick in the 2005 NHL Draft. His 361 wins make him the all time leader in team history in that category. In the 2014-2015 season, Price took home the Hart Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award, Vezina Trophy, and the William Jennings Trophy, and also won the Bill Masterton trophy this past season.

   With Price out for likely the entire season, he will be placed on LTIR by the Canadiens, freeing up $10.5 million in cap space. Jake Allen will take over as the top goaltender on the depth chart, with Sam Montembeault likely to serve as his backup.