"I'm getting prepared to start my ramp-up and preparing for next season," Price said Friday. "I'm going to start preparing like I'm playing. I don't think I will actually have an idea of how that is going to look until later in the summer when I have taken all the necessary steps to get on the ice again."
Price said a platelet-rich plasma injection is among the measures he's taken since Montreal's season ended. He is waiting for the procedure to have its full effect before beginning preparations.
Price played five games this season after having offseason knee surgery and entering the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program for substance use.
He was awarded the Bill Masterton Trophy on Friday. Voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association, it is presented annually to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.
The 34-year-old made his season debut April 15 after missing the first six months and was 1-4-0 with a 3.63 goals-against average and .878 save percentage in five starts.
The Canadiens aren't expecting much clarity on Price's future until July at the earliest. General manager Kent Hughes said Wednesday that he'd like to have an idea of where things stand with Price before the start of NHL free agency July 13.
"It's sometimes just a situation of how will his knee respond to additional treatment," Hughes said. "I think the only way we would have complete clarity on it is if somehow we learned that he could not play. Otherwise we have to go into the season and see how the knee responds once he's back to the rigors of a regular-season schedule.
"But the [2022 Upper Deck NHL] Draft itself (July 7 and 8), probably [is] not as critical as maybe July 13. And knowing his situation from, if he's not playing, then we would have [long-term injured reserve] that we could use. Without that information, we don't have the luxury of using it."
Price said he'd like some clarity too but that he realizes he'll have to be patient as he tests his knee throughout the offseason.
"I wish I could give you news and had news for myself, but I don't," he said. "I'm just going to continue to try to take every step I can in order to play next year. That's pretty much all I've got for you. I'm sorry, I wish I knew more, I really do. I'd probably feel better about the situation, but I don't. Like I said, I'm just going to keep pushing forward."
The Canadiens used six goalies this season, with Sam Montembeault (38 games) and Jake Allen (35) handling the majority of the games.
Price has four seasons remaining on an eight-year contract he signed July 2, 2017.
Allen has one season remaining on his contract. Montembeault and Cayden Primeau, the No. 1 goalie with Montreal's American Hockey League affiliate in Laval, each is a restricted free agent.
Selected by the Canadiens with the No. 5 pick in the 2005 NHL Draft, Price has played all 15 of his NHL seasons with them. He is 361-261-79 with a 2.51 GAA, .917 save percentage and 49 shutouts in 712 regular-season games (700 starts), and 43-45 with a 2.39 GAA and .919 save percentage in 92 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Price helped the Canadiens make a surprising run to the Stanley Cup Final last season, when they lost the best-of-7 series to the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games. In 22 playoff games, he was 13-9-0 with a 2.28 GAA and .924 save percentage.
Montreal (22-49-11) finished last in the NHL standings this season.
Price made 37 saves in a 10-2 win against the Florida Panthers in the Canadiens' final game of the season April 29.
"It was just an exceptional day for myself," Price said the day after that game. "I had a great sleep. It was just an A-plus day. If it is [my final game], then that would be a great way to do it."
