Montreal Canadiens goaltender and B.C. native Carey Price is seeking help, voluntarily entering the NHL/NHL PlayersB次元官网网址� Association joint player assistance program.

The NHLPA said in a release that the 34-year-old star goalie will be away from the team while he takes part in the program. It did not specify why Price entered the program and said it would have no further comment.

PriceB次元官网网址檚 wife Angela cited mental health in an Instagram post showing Price and their three kids

B次元官网网址淧art of the privilege of being in the position our family is in, is that we also get a public platform to show how there is and can be a path for anyone who is struggling,B次元官网网址� she wrote. B次元官网网址淣o matter what is on the line, we hope we can communicate the importance of putting your mental health first not just by saying it, but by showing up and doing the work to get better.

B次元官网网址淐areyB次元官网网址檚 showing up for himself and our family and making the best possible decision for us.B次元官网网址�

She added B次元官网网址渋tB次元官网网址檚 incredibly important for us to show our kids that asking for help and letting yourself be supported by others is not just OK, but encouraged B次元官网网址� anytime, and under any circumstance.B次元官网网址�

The news came out of the blue. Previously the discussion over Price was whether the native of Anahim Lake would recover from off-season surgery to repair a torn meniscus in time to start the season.

Montreal, which made it to the Stanley Cup final earlier this year, opens its 2021-22 campaign next Wednesday at Toronto.

B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 see it coming,B次元官网网址� said Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin. B次元官网网址淭o be up front with you, news came to me yesterday. Yeah, it caught me off-guard, yes.B次元官网网址�

The news comes a day after Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme said it would be unlikely that Price would be ready to start the season due to an unspecified illness.

Bergevin grew emotional when asked about what Price means to him, taking a lengthy pause to regain control.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 hard,B次元官网网址� he said eventually.

The issue of mental health is close to the Canadiens.

Star forward Jonathan Drouin has opened up on his anxiety and insomnia, which prompted him to take a break from hockey last spring during MontrealB次元官网网址檚 playoff push.

B次元官网网址�(ItB次元官网网址檚) the elephant in the room sometimes. We donB次元官网网址檛 say anything and itB次元官网网址檚 very personal,B次元官网网址� said Bergevin. B次元官网网址淚 salute (them for speaking out) and IB次元官网网址檓 glad they did. If thereB次元官网网址檚 other players in the NHL who have different issues, whatever that is, I think the NHL and NHLPA are really looking at the well-being of their players. I commend them to do that. I think every general manager is very sensitive to that and we are here in Montreal.B次元官网网址�

Bergevin asked people to support PriceB次元官网网址檚 family and respect their privacy.

B次元官网网址淚 believe better days are ahead for Carey,B次元官网网址� he added.

With a salary of US$13 million, Price is the HabsB次元官网网址� highest-paid player. He has won the Vezina, Jennings, Ted Lindsay and Hart Memorial trophies, as well as Olympic gold with Canada.

PriceB次元官网网址檚 ability to focus on the task at hand has made him one of the worldB次元官网网址檚 top goalies.

He is used to the hoopla of pro hockey, plying his trade under intense spotlight of the Montreal media. NHL or Olympics, his focus is the same.

B次元官网网址淓ssentially it comes down to the same thing: stopping pucks,B次元官网网址� he said during the 2014 Sochi Olympics where he led Canada to gold.

Price has always been able to strip away things that donB次元官网网址檛 matter.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e always been really good on focusing things put right in front of me,B次元官网网址� he said at Sochi. B次元官网网址淚t really simplifies your mind and helps you focus if you just focus on one thing and try and do really good at that and not worry about anything else.B次元官网网址�

Asked if it was easy to isolate himself in the Olympic bubble, Price replied: B次元官网网址淚 live inside a bubble anyway. I donB次元官网网址檛 get into too much about what anybody has to say, really.B次元官网网址�

The Canadiens will look to Jake Allen, who is entering his ninth NHL season, in PriceB次元官网网址檚 absence. They picked up Sam Montembeault on waivers from Florida on the weekend.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 glad we did,B次元官网网址� Bergevin said of the Montembeault move, calling it B次元官网网址渁 safety valve.B次元官网网址�

The Habs also have 22-year-old Cayden Primeau.

B次元官网网址淎t least for now, until heB次元官网网址檚 back, I think I feel comfortable to be able start us in with these guys on our roster,B次元官网网址� said Bergevin, referencing Price.

The GM said his understanding was that Price would be in the assistance program for a minimum of 30 days.

B次元官网网址淔rom what I was told it would most likely be that, but itB次元官网网址檚 not certain. It could be more,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址擭eil Davidson, The Canadian Press