Carey Price will return to the Canadiens on Monday

Sportsnet’s Eric Engels reports that Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price will return to the team on Monday.

Price has been away from the team since October 7th, following his voluntary entry into the NHL and NHLPA’s players assistance program. No reason has been provided as to why Price entered the program.

Price last played for the Canadiens on July 7th, 2021, in game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals. The team subsequently announced that the star goalie required offseason surgery, which was performed in New York on July 23rd. Price had been expected to be physically ready to start the season.

The Canadiens claimed Samuel Montembeault off the waiver wire from the Florida Panthers when Price entered the NHL/NHLPA players assistance program. Montembeault’s fate upon Price’s return is unclear, although it is reasonable to expect that Price will need additional time to become match ready. The Canadiens can loan Price to the Laval Rocket for a conditioning stint, where Price may play up to three games or stay for a maximum of six days. The team indicates that Price will work with the team’s athletic therapists to develop a plan for reaching game shape.