The Montreal Canadiens have known for a few months that Carey Price probably wouldn't play during the 2022-23 campaign due to longstanding knee injuries, but the veteran goaltender isn't sure that he'll ever be able to resume his playing career.
"My knee still isn't doing great. Like, I'm still not walking up a set of stairs pain-free yet," Price told The Athletic's Arpon Basu. "I still don't feel like my knee's in a place where I'm going to be able to play hockey. ... It's not a great-looking outlook as far as a hockey career when you're struggling to get up and down stairs.
"So, I'm just trying to stay positive and just trying to get my body to a place where I'm healthy enough to be pain-free in my day-to-day. That's kind of my main priority right now."
Price, 35, underwent knee surgery in the summer of 2021 following his stellar performance during the Habs' run to the Stanley Cup Final. As a result, he wasn't able to make his 2021-22 season debut until mid-April and was limited to five games.
However, Price hasn't totally run out of possibilities. One option is a surgery called osteochondral autograft transfer (OAT), which Price likened to Tommy John elbow surgery.
Price said the doctor who suggested the procedure told him the success rate is around 75% or lower, defining success as living a normal life rather than resuming a professional athletic career, and that he'd be unlikely to propose it if Price wasn't trying to play hockey again.
The franchise legend added that it isn't just his knee that's bothering him; he said he also has issues with his hip, ankle, and back.
Price has garnered a variety of accolades throughout his 15-year NHL career, including the Vezina Trophy, Hart Memorial Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award, and Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.
He has yet to capture a Stanley Cup championship, though.
"Yeah, I still have a desire to play the game. ... I still want to win, you know?" Price said. "So there's a little bit of unfinished business there, but I'm also looking at it like, what kind of damage would I do to my knee if I didn't do the surgery and I tried to play again?
"Well, I've been told that I can do some pretty serious damage to my knee if I were to do that. And I'm not really looking to have a knee replacement done in five years."
He's expected to meet with the media next week, Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes said, according to TSN. Price will be in attendance for the Canadiens' season opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday.