Canadiens Goalie Carey Price Confirms His Career Is Over

Goaltender Carey Price confirms what we all figured that his career is over and he will never play hockey again.

“Most likely, barring a Miracle,” Price said during a news conference at CN Sports Complex in Brossard. “I’m still under contract. I still hold on to hope to the fact I can play again, but you know the probabilities are falling by the month.” 

Carey Price’s Playing Career Is Over

During an event at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard, Price spoke with the media at a news conference. He was on hand being named a brand ambassador for CFMOTO Canada off-road vehicles. He was asked about how his recovery going. There he admitted his knee was not where it needed to be for him to continue his playing career.

“Honestly, on a day-to-day basis, I feel really good, Price said about his knee during a news conference at  CN Sports Complex in Brossard. “But when I do certain things on a consistent basis it’s a very solid reminder that my knee’s not in a position to take the brunt of a full season’s workload. I still get a tremendous amount of swelling in it. For short periods of time, I can do things that are strenuous.”

And as training camps, Price feels he can still go out there and play, but the reality is he can’t. He even knows that because of the grind it takes on his body.

“The honest thing is right now, it’s just not going to happen to take the stress of the goaltending position.. it’s not where it needs to be,” Price added speaking with the media at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard. “So for now I’m just going to continue to try and rehab my knee to a position where it’s fit for life in general.”

Price admitted that even after playing in a charity softball even this past summer, his knee was swollen for two weeks.

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Carey Price Went Out On His Terms

Price has been dealing with this injury dating back to when the Canadiens made the 2021 Stanley Cup Final. During that run, Price tore his meniscus and needed off-season knee surgery. After undergoing rehab, Price only played in five games during the 2021-22 season. Though he tried several times to come back, he could not.

His final swan song as a member of the Montreal Canadiens began on April 15th. He played five of the eight remaining games, including the season finale at the Bell Centre on April 29th, 2022. In that game, Price received a standing ovation from the Bell Centre crowd after securing his first win of the season. It was a storybook way to end his playing. And he even knew it at the time.

Following the end of the 2021-22 season, Price admitted that he played the final game of the season like it was the last game of his career. With the information that came out last year at this time and from Price on September 12th, 2023, it truly was one of the best ways to go out as a member of the Montreal Canadiens.

Price did so much for that organization and was beloved by the fan base. Injuries led to a lot of what-ifs for Montreal, especially during the 2014 run to the Eastern Conference Final, as well as their run to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final. In that series, the Canadiens just ran out of steam against a very good Tampa Bay Lightning team.

Price is the all-time wins leader for the Montreal Canadiens with 361. He has played in 712 career games, starting 700 with a 2.51 GAA and a .917 save percentage. In the playoffs, Price has played in 92 games, starting 89, with a 2.39 GAA and a .919 save percentage. Price was the main reason the Canadiens went to the Stanley Cup Final in 2021. As the old saying goes, the Canadiens went as far as Carey Price would take them.

Price had to enter the NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse Program in October 2021. Following his comeback in April 2022, Price was selected as the Bill Masterton Award winner in June 2022. The award is given to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.

Price has three years left on his eight-year, $84 million contract that carries a $10.5 million AAV. Montreal placed Price on long-term injured reserve at the start of last season. Thus his remaining money did not go against the salary cap.

Even general manager Kent Hughes knew it was going to be a long road back last year prior to the start of training camp. Price’s knee just never fully healed from his surgeries.

The Canadiens will place him on LTIR again this season once again this season. In order for it to become official, Price will take his physical once training camps open. The physical is required by the CBA. It will confirm what Price admitted today.

The fifth overall pick in the 2005 NHL Draft won the Vezina and Hart Trophies in 2015. Now that his playing career is over, Price is a lock for the Hockey Hall of Fame.