Canadiens' Carey Price hasn't been on ice in a week

Montreal Canadiens star goaltender Carey Price returned to the club earlier this month after he underwent offseason knee surgery and later voluntarily entered the NHL/NHL Players' Association player assistance program ahead of the start of the 2021-22 season. 

Montreal head coach Dominique Ducharme told reporters last week Price had skated at the team's practice facility, but Ducharme has now confirmed the 34-year-old hasn't been on the ice since last Monday. 

"He keeps working on everything else. In the gym, off-ice treatment and so on," Ducharme said of Price during Monday's media availability, according to Sportsnet. 

Ducharme added that Price's absence is "related to getting back in shape, knee, combination of those."

On Nov. 9, Price announced he entered a treatment facility for substance abuse over a month ago, and Monday's update isn't all that alarming or surprising. Around that same time, Ducharme said the plan was for Price to complete workouts in the gym before beginning on-ice sessions with goalie coach Eric Raymond. From there, Price will eventually be cleared to participate in team practices. 

There remains no timetable for his return to action. 

For what it's worth, the Canadiens aren't one player away from righting the figurative ship this fall. They sit at 5-13-2 overall and in seventh place in the eight-team Atlantic Division ahead of Wednesday's game at the 11-3-5 Washington Capitals.