Canadiens: Is Carey Price Finally Close To A Return?

I remember about a month ago writing an update regarding all the Montreal Canadiens players that were on the injured list. I don’t think i’ve ever spent so much time writing an article about who was injured.

That being said however, players are slowly healing. Jake Allen is back, Christian Dvorak is back and now it seems that Carey Price is finally making enough progress to consider coming back this season as well.

There was an optional practice in Brossard on Saturday morning and to the surprise of many, Carey Price jumped on the ice.

It was also reported that David Savard is very close to returning but hasn’t gotten the green light as of yet. Meanwhile Tyler Pitlick is day-to-day.

And surprise! Jonathan Drouin is back!

We can now also add Brendan Gallagher to the injury list as he will not be playing against the Senators on Saturday night.

The Canadiens will be playing game 62 against the Senators. That means there are 20 games left to the season and it will be interesting what the team’s approach will be regarding their goaltenders.

As we’ve stated before, while there are rumors that the Canadiens could be moving Jake Allen, Kent Hughes did mention in his press conference that the team had no intention on moving a goaltender at this time. What could be interpreted from that sentence is that Andrew Hammond is not close to coming back and the team does not feel confident about Cayden Primeau’s development.

However, if Carey Price, who has somehow went from unsure to possible in a short month, comes back then things might get a little more complicated.

Price would likely benefit from a rehab stint in Laval but with the Rocket fighting for a playoff spot, it’s unsure if management would be willing to sacrifice a few games, especially considering how patient and understanding head coach Jean-Francois Houle has been by seeing his best players constantly plucked by the big club due to the never ending list of injuries throughout the year.

If Jake Allen stays with the team and Carey Price returns before the end of the season, Samuel Montembeault can finally get the much needed wrist surgery and spend the summer rehabilitating and set his eyes for next season. Allen can still be traded in the off-season in order to give Montembeault the full time backup role, unless a team gives up an offer Hughes cannot refuse for Allen at the trade deadline on Monday.

Unless the Canadiens trade for another goaltender like they did with Andrew Hammond and aim for either another AHL veteran or a struggling NHL goaltender with a pending UFA status like Joonas Korpisalo in Columbus.

It’s exciting that Price is making great progress, but there are still more questions than answers as we currently have our eyes set towards the NHL Trade Deadline on Monday.