Price needs more answers before supporting return-to-play plan

Carey Price is torn on the NHL's return-to-play plan.

"I have, I think, about an equal amount of optimism and pessimism," the Montreal Canadiens goaltender said, according to Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press. "It's a very unusual situation. I want the opportunity to be able to play for a Stanley Cup, but I want to be able to continue living life normally."

Price is currently in Washington State training out of a WHL facility, but he plans to return to Montreal for camp, which starts in 15 days.

"We have, obviously, a unique situation right now. The NHL and NHLPA are trying to make the best of a very difficult situation. Moving forward I'd like to play, but we have a lot of questions that need to be answered," he added.

Price added that a good friend of his mother died from COVID-19.

The Habs were gifted a spot in the qualifying round as the Eastern Conference's 12th seed despite posting a record of 31-31-9 in the regular season. Without Price, their chances of an upset over the high-flying Pittsburgh Penguins would be highly unlikely.

Despite posting a negative goals saved above average for just the fourth time in his career, Price won the Molson Cup as the Habs' player of the year for the ninth time. The 32-year-old went 27-25-6 with a .909 save percentage, a 2.79 goals-against average, and four shutouts.