Price unlikely to play 2022-23 season due to knee injury

Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes said Carey Price is unlikely to suit up during the 2022-23 season as the veteran netminder copes with longstanding knee injuries, according to The Athletic's Arpon Basu.

Hughes added there's a slim chance Price will be able to play again without undergoing another knee operation. The Canadiens will place Price on long-term injured reserve and expect an update after his training camp physical.

The 35-year-old underwent knee surgery in the summer of 2021 after carrying the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup Final. While rehabbing the injury for several months, he also entered the NHL's player assistance program before the 2021-22 campaign.

Price appeared in five games in the latter stages of this past season - his 15th with the Canadiens - and in April said he doesn't believe his injured knee would allow him to handle a full campaign's workload in the future. He also acknowledged he may have played his last NHL game.

Placing Price and his $10.5-million cap hit on LTIR will give Montreal space to put Sean Monahan's $6.375 million on its books. The Canadiens traded for the veteran center along with a conditional first-round pick on Thursday.

Price is under contract until after the 2025-26 season. He inked an eight-year, $84-million extension in 2017 to become the NHL's highest-paid goaltender. At the time of signing, Price owned a career .920 save percentage across 500 starts along with a Hart Trophy, a Vezina Trophy, and an Olympic gold medal.

Since then, Price has battled injuries and posted a .908 clip in 203 appearances. He's saved his best for the playoffs in recent years, registering a .927 save percentage and three shutouts in 32 combined postseason games in 2020 and 2021.