BROSSARD | Carey Price will always be a member of the Montreal Canadiens, the team he spent 15 seasons in the NHL. But if Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton ever want to swap their heavy contracts, the masked man wouldn’t put a stop to the leaders’ plans.
Price, in his role as the new ambassador for the CFMOTO vehicle brand, met at the Canadiens’ training facility in Brossard and mentioned this opportunity for the first time.
“This decision is not mine. In hockey you have to keep an eye on the salary cap and salaries, Price said. Managers have to make decisions. But I will remain a Montreal Canadian for the rest of my life. I’m very proud of it. I will help the team no matter what the decision is. If they need to move money to improve the team, I will accept that. »
In an interview with his colleague Pierre LeBrun from The Athletic website, Hughes mentioned that he doesn’t think it’s impossible to exchange his goalkeeper’s monstrous contract. It would be a swappable account, like Shea Weber’s, with the Vegas Golden Knights in June 2022.
A position at CH
If the idea of starting from CH’s administrative books doesn’t put him off, Price could see himself playing a role within the organization in the future.
“Yes, I keep this door open. Since I have small children at home, I will not be taking on a full-time position any time soon. I want to stay present. But one day the kids will be at an age where they won’t want to spend so much time with their dad! But yes, I see myself in a role in the future. »
At peace with a reality without hockey
“I’ll tell you a scene. As I walked into the golf tournament for lunch on Monday, I looked around and saw the current team players at one table and the veterans at another table. I knew the same number of players at both tables. Ultimately I decided to sit down with the trainers. I thought it would be the ideal place for me! »
Price is the one who told this anecdote. At 36 years old and still suffering from sore knees, Price knows he won’t be blocking pucks at the NHL level again. And he remains at peace with that reality.
He reinforced what we already knew. His days as the team’s best goalkeeper are behind him.
“This is the most likely scenario, barring a miracle,” he said. I still have a contract and I still have to think that I could still play. But the probabilities decrease month by month.”
“Honestly, I feel pretty good every day,” he said. I feel like I could still prepare for an NHL camp. But as I do things more regularly, I quickly notice that my knee isn’t healed. My knee can’t take the strain of a long hockey season. My knee is still very swollen. The honest answer is that it won’t happen. I can’t bear the stress of being a goalkeeper, I don’t have the strength in my knee.”
Pain on a ball field
Price had returned to Montreal for his commitment to the off-road vehicle manufacturer, but also for the team camp.
Number 31 must meet with doctors and take part in physical examinations to prove he is unfit to return to the game. It is a question of insurance to maintain his salary (8.5 million for the 2023-2024 season but 10.5 million). for its influence on the salary cap).
Martin Chevalier / JdeM
In a good mood and generous in his answers, the winningest goalkeeper in Habs history with 361 wins described his daily physical health.
“Day after day I feel good. I go for walks, I pick up my kids from school, I can climb or play golf. I feel spoiled.”
“But I played in a charity softball tournament over the summer. It’s not the most demanding sport. I played for a whole day. I can do it from time to time. I’m still a hockey player and I endure the pain. Just from playing softball and running the bases, my knees started to swell up again over the next two weeks.”
“Sometimes I tell myself that I could prepare for camp and that I would win a spot,” he continued. But I have a memory of playing in a softball tournament. I couldn’t stand the marathon of a season.”