Habs Injury Report: Price Off The Ice Another Week, Injury Updates

It’s been two weeks since skating was part of Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price’s rehab and comeback bid to return this season from surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee last July. When the Canadiens announced earlier in the week that there would be an update on Price’s status, there was a glimmer of hope that maybe the news would be that the rehab process was moving back onto the ice but unfortunate for the Canadiens and their fans, that’s not the case. While Price’s off-ice workouts are progressing, the veteran netminder will be off the ice for at least another week.

“His off-ice workout is progressing well, he’s doing better,” Montreal Canadiens vice president of communications Chantal Machabée said about Price after Friday morning’s practice in Brossard. “He won’t be on the ice this upcoming week.”

While that may be disappointing news to many, it wasn’t a surprise by any means. When Carey Price addressed the media for the first time this season back on Jan. 30, he was cautiously optimistic at best on a potential return this season.

“I’m a little bit anxious about these next couple weeks,” he told reporters Sunday. “I’m hoping for the best. I obviously want this to go well. If I have another setback, I’m just going to start over again. You never know. There’s always a possibility. There’s a lot going on over the next couple of weeks that will determine the rest of my season.”

The problem now is there have been multiple setbacks and as a lost season goes on, there likely will come a time soon, if the new hockey ops staff, new interim head coach Martin St. Louis and of course the medical staff will need to sit down with the 34-year-old goalie and decide what’s best for his future, playing this season, waiting until next season or. …yeah, let’s not go there yet.

Anderson Set To Return For Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens did deliver some good news on the injury front Friday. After being taken to the hospital for an upper-body injury he suffered during the Canadiens’ 4-0 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday, Habs winger Josh Anderson skated in a full-contact jersey Friday at practice. Following practice, Machabée announced that Anderson will travel to Ottawa Saturday for the game against the Senators.

The news wasn’t so good on forward Paul Byron, who like Anderson, was taken to the hospital for an upper-body injury suffered against the Sabres. After returning from offseason hip surgery on Jan. 30 and playing in just eight games, Byron will out be out indefinitely.

Here are the rest of the injury updates from Machabée:

Forwards

Joel Armia practiced with the team (no contact). Armia day-to-day, but won’t play against Ottawa.

Jonathan Drouin started skating on Thursday. He’s progressing, but won’t travel to Ottawa.

Mathieu Perreault practiced with the team. He’s day-to-day.

Defensemen

Joel Edmundson practiced with the team (no contact). The Montreal Canadiens rearguard will travel to Ottawa, but won’t play.

Corey Schueneman has completed his stint in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol and returned to practice.

Goaltenders

Jake Allen started skating again on Thursday and he’s progressing.