Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens goaltender, has resigned to enter the NHL/NHLPA player aid program.
Price had been indicated by the Canadiens that he was not likely to be available for the season opener against Toronto Maple Leafs on October 13. Price is "not doing well right at the moment," Coach Dominique Ducharme stated Wednesday.
Ducharme stated that Price would be back in the lineup soon after undergoing offseason surgery to fix a torn meniscus.
Marc Bergevin, Canadiens general manger, stated that Price's decision was something he had heard about Wednesday. He said that the news "threw me off my guard." Thursday morning, the GM addressed the team. Bergevin stated that Price would be absent from the team for at least 30 days, but that it could be longer. He stated that Price would be back this season.
Price's decision was jointly announced by the NHLPA and NHLPA. They also stated that there would be no further comment.
Angela Price, Angela Price's wife and goaltender, posted a message to Instagram following the announcement.
"Part of the privilege to be in the situation our family is in is that we get a public platform for showing how there is and can still be hope for anyone struggling. We hope that we can all communicate the importance to put your mental health first, no matter what the situation.
"Carey is showing up for his family and himself, and making the best decisions for us. I will continue to support him and our children and find the support that I need every day.
Price, who is 34 years old, enters his 15th NHL season with Montreal. Price is on his fourth year of an $84 million contract. Price was an integral part of the Canadiens' surprise run to the Stanley Cup Final last year, with a record.924 save percentage. Price was a Vezina Trophy finalist twice as the league's top goaltender. He also won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP in the 2014-15 season.
Jake Allen, 31, will be the Canadiens' backup goalie. He played in 29 games last year. He was previously a St. Louis Blues goalie. On Saturday, they claimed Samuel Montembeault as their goalie on waivers from Florida Panthers.
