Carey PriceB次元官网网址檚 blank facial expression told most of the story.

The Montreal Canadiens had just fallen in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup final. Their season was over. The Tampa Bay Lightning were celebrating a second consecutive title down the hall.

It was July 7, 2021, and Price was hurting B次元官网网址� both emotionally and physically B次元官网网址� as the star goaltender dissected his teamB次元官网网址檚 trying season and magical playoff run amid the COVID-19 pandemic on a video conference call with reporters.

He didnB次元官网网址檛 know it at the time, but there would be just five more games in his professional career.

B次元官网网址淭o come so close and not win, itB次元官网网址檚 pretty heart-wrenching,B次元官网网址� Price said in a recent interview. B次元官网网址淩esults aside, the experience was something IB次元官网网址檒l cherish forever.B次元官网网址�

The Anahim Lake, B.C., productB次元官网网址檚 knee was already a major issue as Montreal stunned hockey by making the Original Six franchiseB次元官网网址檚 first final since CanadaB次元官网网址檚 last Cup victory in 1993. Price spent most of the following season trying to get back. His eventual return that spring would be brief.

B次元官网网址淚 always figured that my career would come to an end when I either wasnB次元官网网址檛 good enough or my body was telling me that it was time,B次元官网网址� Price said. B次元官网网址淲hen your body tells you you need to do something else, kid, you better listen.

B次元官网网址淚 wanted to be able to walk and play with my kids and my grandkids B次元官网网址� 15 years is a long time to be an NHL goalie. I was blessed.B次元官网网址�

The 37-year-old hasnB次元官网网址檛 played a game since April 29, 2022. And while thereB次元官网网址檚 been no official retirement announcement B次元官网网址� his big-money contract runs through next season B次元官网网址� he long ago migrated to life after hockey.

B次元官网网址淚 thought not playing IB次元官网网址檇 have a lot of time on my hands,B次元官网网址� joked Price, who has three children with wife Angela. B次元官网网址淭urns out parentingB次元官网网址檚 a busy occupation.B次元官网网址�

His downtime has also included partnering with Kraft Hockeyville, a program thatB次元官网网址檚 awarded Canadian communities more than $5.1 million to maintain or upgrade sports and recreation infrastructure B次元官网网址� including arenas B次元官网网址� over the past 19 years. Nominations are open through March 2.

B次元官网网址淚 grew up in a remote area,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 know how important local rinks and their maintenance and upgrading is.B次元官网网址�

Price, who should be a lock for the Hockey Hall of FameB次元官网网址檚 class of 2025, put up a career regular-season mark of 361-261-79, including 49 shutouts, a .917 save percentage and a 2.51 goals-against average.

The No. 5 overall pick at the 2005 draft won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP in 2014-15 along with also taking home Vezina Trophy honours as the leagueB次元官网网址檚 top netminder.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 no way that I would have been able to win those trophies without that commitment from the team in front of me,B次元官网网址� said Price, who won 44 games and had a .933 save percentage that season. B次元官网网址淭hose fellas blocked a lot of shots. We played a tight system, we played it as a group.B次元官网网址�

Price, however, never found ultimate team success in the playoffs despite a .919 save percentage and 2.39 GAA in 92 post-season contests.

Since hanging up his skates B次元官网网址� heB次元官网网址檚 been on the ice a few times, but not in pads B次元官网网址� the netminder has taken time to reflect.

B次元官网网址淲hen youB次元官网网址檙e in it, youB次元官网网址檙e in it,B次元官网网址� Price explained. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e so goal-oriented that you donB次元官网网址檛 really think of an ending. But having a chance to look back, IB次元官网网址檓 just so thankful. I got to be able to be the goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 something that IB次元官网网址檓 extremely proud of.B次元官网网址�

FUTURE PLANS

Price said heB次元官网网址檚 content to be a dad for now but hasnB次元官网网址檛 shut the door on a return to hockey once his kids are older.

B次元官网网址淲hen theyB次元官网网址檙e teenagers and donB次元官网网址檛 think IB次元官网网址檓 cool anymore,B次元官网网址� he quipped from his home in Kelowna, B.C. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 pretty content being a dad.B次元官网网址�

His mother, Lynda, is chief of the Ulkatcho First Nation. Price said that while he follows politics, itB次元官网网址檚 not his game.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know if IB次元官网网址檓 competitive enough,B次元官网网址� he said.

HELLEBUYCKB次元官网网址橲 HEATER

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is putting up numbers that, similar to Price in 2014-15, have him in the Hart conversation this season.

The 31-year-old from Commerce, Mich., owns an eye-popping 31-7-2 record B次元官网网址� including six shutouts B次元官网网址� to go along with a .927 save percentage and a 2.00 GAA.

B次元官网网址淐onnorB次元官网网址檚 playing in a league thatB次元官网网址檚 more offensive,B次元官网网址� Price said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 more room out there. ItB次元官网网址檚 not as tight as it used to be. The numbers heB次元官网网址檚 putting up are very impressive.B次元官网网址�

SHEAB次元官网网址橲 DAY

Price was in Toronto in November for former Montreal captain Shea WeberB次元官网网址檚 induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

The former Canadiens captain was seated next to Price back in July 2021 after Montreal lost out in the Cup final, but never played again due to a long list of injuries.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 essentially a lifetime achievement award,B次元官网网址� Price said of the hallB次元官网网址檚 call. B次元官网网址淵ou spend your whole career, your whole life dedicated to something.B次元官网网址�