Canadiens goaltender Carey Price will be “away from the team while voluntarily taking part in the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program,” the NHL and NHLPA announced Thursday.
Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin said that Price should be back in about 30 days, the minimum time required in the assistance program. But he acknowledges that he could be away from the team for a longer period. Bergevin also felt confident that Price would be back with the team before the end of the season.
“Today, I’m not thinking of Carey Price the Montreal Canadiens goalie, but Carey Price the human being,” Bergevin told the media Thursday morning.
Price’s wife, Angela, posted on Instagram that part of being in the public eye allows their family “to show how there is and can be a path to light for anyone who is struggling.”
“Carey’s showing up for himself and our family and making the absolute best decision possible for us,” she wrote. “And it’s incredibly important to us to show our kids that asking for help, and letting yourself be supported by others is not just OK, but encouraged – anytime, and under any circumstance.”
The NHL and NHL Players Association started the player assistance program in 1996. The jointly funded program assists players and their families with mental health, substance abuse and other matters. Counselors are available in each NHL city.
Price, 34, went 12-7-5, registering a 2.64 goals-against average and .901 save percentage, with one shutout last season. Price also had offseason surgery to repair a torn meniscus.
This is a developing story. More to come.
(Photo: Dave Sandford / NHLI via Getty Images)
