Carey Price had taken off his black cowboy hat. He wore a dark suit and looked solemn. If he seemed at peace of mind, the 34-year-old guard remained bothered by a knee that refuses to fully heal.
There’s one thing Price is afraid to take out completely. It’s not his hat, but his goalie mask.
Watch the press briefing in the video above.
“Hockey is a big part of who I am,” Price said. I’ve been the Montreal Canadiens goaltender for a little over a decade. We ended the season on a disappointing note. I wanted to wear this sweater again.
Operated on a knee at the end of July, the goalkeeper from British Columbia has still not blocked a puck this season with the CH vest on his shoulders. He would like to achieve this, but he does not know if it will be possible.
“Yes, it is a goal to return to the game this year, he replied. It has always been my goal since I came back here (Montreal). I had setbacks in my rehabilitation. It was frustrating. But I have to deal with it, I have to find a way to heal. I am taking steps in the right direction. I hope that I will continue to progress in order to return to my uniform fairly quickly.
A possibility
There is hope, but there is also doubt. Hope is a return to play by the end of the season. The doubt is to see the winner of the Vézina trophy in 2015 hanging up his leggings.
In an interview with La Presse on Sunday, Kent Hughes, general manager of the Habs, did not rule out the hypothesis of a compromised career for his star goaltender.
Questioned on this subject, Price did not close the door to the darkest of scenarios either.
“You never know. There is always a possibility. There are several things that will determine my season over the next few weeks. I myself can’t wait to get the answers. But, I don’t have the answers yet. We will know soon.”
“I’m looking for the next month,” he continued. I have already gone through this path in recent weeks and there have been setbacks.
Doubts
Relaunched on his chances of starting to play again, the man from Anahim Lake once again opted for caution.
“I can’t offer a stat for my chances of getting back in the net. I just started skating again. But I had setbacks on both occasions. I will keep it as a goal to return to the game.
Price, who has had a terrific run in the playoffs, also worries that he won’t be able to get back to the top of his game. A fear shared by the majority of players looking to recover from a serious injury.
“It goes through my head. When you have an injury like this and there are setbacks, there are always doubts. You are an athlete, you perform at a high level. You always ask yourself questions. We have good therapists. I will trust the doctors. I hope to get back to my level when I return.”
Price had not met with reporters since July 7, the date of the five-game Stanley Cup final elimination against the Tampa Bay Lightning. That evening, he shared a podium with his captain, Shea Weber.
“I knew it was probably near the end for Webs,” he admitted. I also knew that I was to have an operation. I didn’t think too much about that. I was mainly thinking about our journey. It was a long road mentally. It was really nice, but it was also hard to accept in the end. I knew several things were about to happen. It crossed my mind.”
In his first media outing in 207 days, Price offered some pretty generous responses, considering he’s a reserved man. In a season where the boat is sinking everywhere and where the absence of several leaders is awfully felt, Price will remain an attentive ear for his teammates, but he does not have the feeling of having the same ascendancy by finding himself at the ‘Infirmary.
“I can stay as a leader within the team, I know that there are players watching me. But when you’re hurt, it’s not the same feeling. I can be there to talk to teammates. It’s not an easy season.”
BULK QUOTES
“It crossed my mind [de ne jamais retrouver mon niveau de jeu habituel]. There is always a doubt in your mind. You always have questions.”
“I cannot give you the probabilities of my return. I wish I could do that.”
“I want to be able to put this sweater on again. That’s what motivates me right now.”
“I have no intention of going anywhere else [qu’à Montréal].»
On the possibility that he could never play again: “You never know what will happen. There are many possibilities. I will know more in the next few weeks. I’m obviously anxious myself.”
“It’s definitely a goal for me to get back into the game. It’s been a frustrating process so far, that’s for sure.”
“I want everyone to know that I’m fine. I look to the future.”