Carey Price isn’t closing the door on a future behind the Canadiens bench, but he’s making one thing plain: hockey is not the priority right now.
The longtime Montreal goaltender said he can see a day when coaching could make sense, especially once his children are older and his focus shifts. For the moment, though, he’s stepping back from the game and refusing to treat a return like something he has to rush into.
That stance comes from someone who knows exactly what life in Montreal demands. Price spent all 15 of his NHL seasons with the Canadiens, appearing in 712 games and piling up 361 wins. After giving that much to the organization, he’s earned the right to decide if and when he wants back in.
Asked about the idea of coaching someday, Price laid out his thinking clearly:
"Definitely, you know, it's still at the back of my mind, but to be honest with you, my life at home is my commitment now; when the time comes for me to do something, I'm not the type of person to do it halfway, and I don't want to give myself in a half-hearted capacity. So you know, maybe when my kids are older, my priorities change, and I have that hunger to get back into the game, I'll get back into it, but that time's not yet."
The question lands at an interesting moment for Montreal, too. Martin St-Louis has the Canadiens rolling, and the team sits at 11-3-3 with 25 points through 17 games. That puts them seventh in the NHL and second in the Atlantic Division.
The Canadiens haven’t lost in regulation in their last 10 games, going 8-0-2 with a +8 goal differential. They’ve also been strong away from home, posting a 6-1-1 road record.
Tonight, Minnesota comes to Montreal, where the Canadiens are looking to keep building on a solid stretch at the Bell Centre. They’re 5-2-2 at home.
Journalist Karine Hains posed the question of whether Price would have enjoyed playing behind this version of the Canadiens. It’s easy to see why the idea of him being around the team again still resonates with fans. For now, though, Price has made his position clear: the game can wait until the timing is right.
In Other News...
Canadiens Suddenly Face A Bigger Concern Ahead Of Bruins Trip
Nick Suzuki and Jake Evans were both absent from Canadiens practice Wednesday, with the team classifying the missed session as maintenance following the clubs most recent game. Montreal confirmed the two forwards were not on the ice but did not offer any further detail, leaving the group to sort through a little more uncertainty as it prepares for a trip to Boston.
Suzukis status is the more notable concern because he briefly left Tuesdays game before returning and scoring Montreals only goal, while Evans had already been managing discomfort since Monday. For a team heading into a divisional matchup with the Bruins, any question about the availability of two important centers is worth watching closely, especially with no immediate update on whether either will be ready to go. [Read more 🡒]
Cole Caufield Just Sparked A Bigger Canadiens Debate Than The Loss
Cole Caufield turned a frustrating night into a larger conversation for the Canadiens after Montreals overtime loss to Minnesota, shifting the focus from the result to how NHL games are being officiated. The forward took aim at the way referees handle controversial calls, adding another layer to a game that already left the Canadiens with plenty to sort through.
What made his comments resonate was the broader point behind them: Caufield wants more accountability from officials and believes they should be able to explain what they saw instead of simply signaling a penalty and moving on. For a Canadiens team still chasing consistency, it is the kind of postgame critique that can linger well beyond one loss, especially when it taps into a league-wide debate about transparency on the ice. [Read more 🡒]
Nick Suzuki Scare Had Canadiens Fans Holding Their Breath
Nick Suzuki gave Canadiens fans a scare in the third period, leaving the game briefly before returning to the ice and settling things down in a hurry. Montreals captain has been a central part of the clubs offense all season, appearing in 12 of the teams 18 games and continuing to drive play at the top of the lineup.
The good news for Montreal is that the concern did not linger long after the final whistle, with the team indicating Suzuki is fine after his short absence. Even so, any moment like that tends to tighten the mood around a team that leans so heavily on its top center, especially when he has been one of the most important contributors to the Canadiens attack. [Read more 🡒]