Carey Price rejoining Canadiens after time in NHL player assistance program

Montreal Canadiens star goaltender Carey Price is expected to rejoin the team on Monday following a 30-day stint in the NHL’s player assistance program, the club announced Friday.

Price voluntarily entered the program in early October, right before the Habs were slated to start their season. No reason was given for his entry into the program.

"No matter what is on the line, we hope we can communicate the importance of putting your mental health first not just by saying it, but by showing up and doing the work to get better," Price's wife, Angela, wrote on Instagram at the time.

While the struggling Canadiens will welcome their superstar netminder back with open arms, the 34-year-old will take some time to get back into game shape before he's ready to hit the ice. Some work with Montreal's AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket, is also possible.

Following a timid regular season last year, Price returned to Vezina Trophy-level goaltending in the 2021 playoffs, carrying the Canadiens to a Stanley Cup Finals appearance. He sported a 2.28 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage during the improbable playoff run.

Montreal has struggled immensely out of the gate in 2021-22, finding itself at the bottom of the Atlantic Division with six points and a 3-9-0 record. Jake Allen has seen the bulk of the work between the pipes so far this season, with Sam Montembeault also mixing in occasionally.

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