With the news that goaltender Jake Allen is out with an injury, questions about what happens in the net for the Montreal Canadiens are everywhere. Multiple reports surfaced, including one by Arpon Basu that the expectation was fans would see Carey Price return on Monday vs. the Winnipeg Jets. A call-up by the Canadiens on Sunday lends credence to the idea that is not the case.
Related: Three Takeaways from Maple Leafs’ 3-2 Win Over the Canadiens
The Canadiens confirmed that they were recalling goaltender Cayden Primeau from the Laval Rocket and it is expected he might backup or work in tandem with Samuel Montembeault and Price will continue to sit out, potentially returning from an injury later this season. A return on Monday is still possible, it’s just not as expected.
The Canadiens are eager to get Price into the lineup. While they’ll be patient and won’t rush him, knowing that he can play is different than heading into the offseason with questions about whether he’ll ever be able to return to form. Even if he were to only offer limited minutes during some of the final games remaining, it could ease tensions surrounding the health of his knee.
The Canadiens have little to play for this season and every remaining game is all about the offseason and next year. Price is a big part of that conversation. “He’ll let us know when he’s ready,” said head coach Martin St. Louis. He added that Price was being managed day-to-day, so even if he doesn’t play Monday, it doesn’t mean he won’t play sometime next week.
Price Will Potentially Get In At Some Point
Fantasy players are starting to scoop up Price with the thought that he will see action. Price wants to prove to himself that he can still play in the NHL. If he can show he’s got a lot of game left in him, even if it’s only for a few games to end the season, he can enter the summer a bit more confident.
The Canadiens can also use those few games to judge their future plans when it comes to the veteran. While his contract would be incredibly hard to trade if they wanted to, it might be nice to know they don’t want to.
Next: Oilers Ready to Give Dylan Holloway an NHL Opportunity
