Habs’s coach, Martin St. Louis, confirmed the news after Friday morning skate. Price, who has not played since the 5th game of the 2021 Stanley Cup final on July 7, spent months recovering from out-of-season knee surgery. He was forced to stop his recovery after voluntarily joining the NHL Player Assistance Program last fall. He has previously stated that he joined the substance abuse program. In January, Price spoke to the Montreal media for the first time in six months and said he was optimistic he could return to the squad before the end of the season, but admitted there was a chance his career could be jeopardized. . “There is a saying that champions are built when no one is watching,” St. Louis said Friday. “A player’s success, for the fans, is judged on the ice, but the player has to do many things to be successful on the ice – often alone, when no one is watching or cheering him on.” Price, from Anahim Lake, BC, has spent his entire NHL 14-season career with the Habs. The seven-time all-star was named the NHL’s Most Valuable Player and Top Goalkeeper in 2015. Montreal (20-43-11) is in last place in the National Hockey League with eight games left and has 284 goals in the league this season.
