Geoff Molson just dropped a major hint about Carey Price's jersey retirement

Geoff Molson says the Montreal Canadiens aren't ready to retire Carey Price's No. 31, and he's not budging on the timeline.

The Canadiens owner addressed the question directly this week, and his answer landed with a thud for fans who've been asking about it for years.

"It's too early for that now and we're not discussing it," Molson said.

That's about as clear a stiff-arm as an owner can give without shutting the door completely.

Price hasn't played a game since the 2021-22 season, but his shadow still hangs over the Bell Centre crease.

Molson didn't leave it there, though.

"He was among the best goalkeepers in the world while he was playing and we're very proud of him," he added.

Why Montreal isn't ready to hang No. 31 from the rafters

That's praise without a plan, and Habs fans know the difference by now.

Retiring a number is a franchise choosing its moment, not reacting to pressure, and Molson clearly wants to pick his own.

Compare it to a museum deciding when to unveil a new wing. The artifact isn't going anywhere, but the timing has to feel right to the people running the building.

Martin St-Louis is still building his group around a young core, and general manager Kent Hughes has spent two years reshaping the roster from the ground up.

Montreal closed last season with a 48-24-10 record and 106 points, good for third in the Atlantic and a real step forward under St-Louis.

A jersey retirement ceremony is a night about the past. Right now, the organization seems more interested in talking about what's next.

Is there a risk in waiting too long? Ask Habs fans who watched other franchises drag out tributes to franchise legends until the moment lost some of its shine.

Price's number will hang from the rafters eventually. Nobody in that organization is pretending otherwise.