“There has been no improvement,” GM said of the goalie’s injury status. “This summer he had injections in his knees and it didn’t help.”
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Kent Hughes held a news conference to discuss the acquisition of center Sean Monahan and a conditional first-round pick from the Calgary Flames on Thursday, but the biggest news was an update on goalkeeper Carey Price’s health and the news was not good.
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“Right now the news on Carey is pretty bleak as there hasn’t been any improvement,” Hughes said. “This summer he had injections in his knees and they didn’t help. We don’t expect Carey to be available for the start of the season. Honestly, I don’t know if there is a way that will allow him to play this season.
“I think if Carey is going to come back, she’s going to need surgery,” Hughes added.
The news should not be a surprise. Price, who underwent arthroscopic surgery last summer, played just five games at the end of last season and complained of knee swelling. He began the season in the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program and also missed time due to COVID, but suffered setback after setback in rehab.
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Hughes said Price will eventually be placed on long-term injured reserve. That will free up $10.5 million and allow the Canadiens to add the final year of Monahan’s contract, which is capped at $6.375 million.
The decision on when to place Price at LTIR depends on other factors, including ongoing negotiations with newcomer Kirby Dach and goalkeeper Cayden Primeau, who is expected to spend most of next season at Laval.
At the end of last season, Hughes said the organization didn’t have a goalie capable of being No. 1 if Price wasn’t ready, but he said Thursday that the Canadiens plan to start the season with a combination of Jake Allen and Samuel. Montembault.
Price has four seasons left on his $10.5 million annual cap contract, but Hughes did not speculate on his long-term future.
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“We’ll probably have more to say when Carey gets her physicals in training camp,” Hughes said. “Then we will have another press conference with Carey and the doctors.”
The Canadiens talked to the Flames about Monahan earlier this summer, but the deal quickly came together when Calgary needed to free up cap space after agreeing to pay unrestricted free agent Nazem Kadri $7 million a year for the next seven years. They were desperate enough to pitch the conditional first round in 2024, 2025 or 2026. In return, the Flames received future consideration.
Monahan has his own injury problems. He has had surgery on both hips in the last two years. He was relegated to a fourth-row role last season and produced eight goals and 23 points in 65 games.
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His most productive season with the Flames came in the 2018-19 season, when he scored 34 goals and scored 82 points in 78 games.
“I haven’t spoken directly to Sean, but he seems upbeat and seems to believe that for the first time in a long time he’s going to be healthy.” Hughes said. “I don’t know if he’s going to be Game 1 of the season or Game 4, but he’s in better shape than he’s been in years past.”
Given that the Canadiens were unlikely to make the playoffs even with a healthy Price in goal, Monahan would appear to be a candidate for a move at the trade deadline, but he’s only 27 and Hughes said he’d be interested in keeping him. Monahan yes”he can go back to the way he was when he was drafted and during his early years.”
The 6-foot-2, 198-pounder gives Montreal extra depth in the center. He joins Nick Suzuki, Christian Dvorak, Dach and Jake Evans who could be found in the band.
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