Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price has left the team to voluntarily enter the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program.

The Canadiens had indicated Price was unlikely to be ready for the season opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 13. Coach Dominique Ducharme said Wednesday that Price was "not doing well right now."

Ducharme said the expectation was to ease Price back into the lineup after the star goalie had offseason surgery to repair a torn meniscus.