It took a few words. Just a few words to make all of Quebec freeze.
Carey Price, the big, the stoic, the one who always kept his calm even in the media storm of Montreal, broke down.
Finally, not “cracked” in the sense that he threw his phone at a wall, but he did what he rarely does: he talked about his emotions.
And not half. No, he brought us all to our knees with this simple confession:
“I miss the matches. I miss the energy in the arena. I miss the preparation. I miss the intensity. But what I miss most is being part of a team. »
Admit it, it hurts. You don’t have to be a hockey expert to feel that it comes from the bottom of your heart.
Because we know Carey Price. He is the one who gave everything for this city, this organization.
Fifteen seasons. More than 700 matches. A Hart Trophy, a Vezina, and a list of accomplishments that would make any NHL goalie blush.
And yet, despite all that, the guy never got what he really deserved: a Stanley Cup.
When you read this, you can’t help but think about everything Price has been through.
The peaks, like this famous 2014-2015 season where he was literally unbeatable, winning everything in his path.
And the lows, like in 2014, when Chris Kreider ruined our serial hopes with a killer knee. This moment is engraved in the history of the Canadian.
We don’t know what could have happened, but we know that Price deserved better. And then he gives you this, his little message that hits you like a puck in the chest.
Price who says she misses him “the intensity, the energy of the arena”it’s like Superman saying he regrets not flying anymore.
It’s not just sad, it’s heartbreaking. We’re talking about a guy who carried this team for years.
The guy we counted on to save us, even when the team in front of him looked like a pile of orange cones.
But what hurts even more is that we feel a hint of regret through his words.
Not towards himself because he has nothing to be ashamed of, but towards this situation.
Today, he watches the Canadiens rebuild, he sees young people like Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield shine, and he has to ask himself: Why didn’t this happen sooner?
Why have I never had a team like this behind me?
And he’s not wrong. For years, Carey Price was the only reason the Canadiens had a chance.
This guy dragged the team on his back, sometimes alone, like a sherpa climbing Everest with a ton of luggage.
And now that the team is finally starting to show signs of life, he stands there, watching from afar, unable to participate. Imagine what it must be like for a competitor like him to see that. It breaks you.
-But be careful, let’s not confuse this message with a call for pity.
Carey Price is not that type of guy. He never sought attention.
Even in his worst moments, his struggles with addiction, his injuries, his prolonged absences, he always maintained a certain dignity.
So when he says he misses the game, it’s not a request for sympathy, it’s a raw truth.
And this truth brings us back to the harsh reality of sport: no matter how good you are, one day it stops.
And that’s when you realize how human Price is.
Because yes, he’s a legend, one of the best goalkeepers in Canadian history, but he’s also a man.
A man who, today, looks at what he left behind with a touch of nostalgia. And honestly, who can blame him?
Because beyond the statistics, 361 career victories, a save percentage of .917, a goals against average of 2.51, there is a guy who gave everything for this city, this team.
There’s a guy who sacrificed his mental health, his body, and even part of his personal life to meet sometimes unrealistic expectations.
And what does he get in return? No Stanley Cup, and now, a spectator role.
But what’s even harder to swallow is the idea that this team, the one being built under Martin St-Louis, could well succeed where all previous teams have failed.
Imagine if the Canadian, in two or three years, finally wins this famous Stanley Cup.
Imagine Carey Price, sitting in front of his TV, watching his former teammates hoist that trophy. That’s cruel. Not because he didn’t deserve this moment, but because he should have been a part of it.
And that is the tragedy of Carey Price. He’s not just a guy who missed a Stanley Cup.
He’s a guy who did everything to make it happen, and who, today, watches this dream become possible… without him. So yes, his message is heartbreaking.
Yes, it reminds us that even the greatest heroes can’t control everything. But it also reminds us why we love this sport.
Because behind every goalkeeper mask, there is a man. A man like Carey Price, who, despite everything, continues to inspire.
So the next time you hear about Carey Price, remember that. Remember, this guy wasn’t just a great player; he was, and remains, part of the soul of this team.
And even if he no longer plays, even if he sometimes collapses under the weight of emotions, he will always be Carey Price. A legend.
Amen
