Head coach Claude Julien affirmed that even if there are only 10 games remaining on the schedule this season, it wouldn't be the right thing to do to wait until next year before bringing his No. 1 goaltender back for game action.
"I'm not sure it would be the right approach and the right example to give the players, to say, 'Listen, we don't want you to play again this season.' He's healthy, he wants to play," outlined the coach. "He's not coming back at 90%; he's 100% healthy, so you can't keep a player back - especially a player like Carey, and tell him he's missing the next 10 games. It's not a good message to send."
Julien did specify that Price wouldn't play on Monday against Florida, but that if called upon, he'd be ready. In other words, it'll be Antti Niemi in the crease to take on the Panthers at the Bell Centre.
Earlier in the day, the Habs announced they had sent Charlie Lindgren back to the Laval Rocket.
"In Lindgren's case, it was an emergency recall," added Julien. "We had no choice but to send him back."
The Canadiens' skipper is well aware that he might face some criticism for throwing Price back into the melée this season, but added that whichever decision the club took would be prone to some pushback.
"The people who are worried don't know all the details; they don't know everything, and they never will. If we worry about the perception on the outside, that doesn't mean we'll make the right decisions on the inside," explained the coach. "He's 100% right now. At the end of the day, those are athletes who are paid to do their jobs. Just because he had a concussion, doesn't mean he's going to get another one if he plays. There's a proud athlete who feels great and wants to play. If ever something happens, we're not going to take any risks with it, that's for sure. With anybody."
Price had suffered a concussion after taking a shot to the head on February 20 against the Philadelphia Flyers.
