The Montreal Canadiens could be stuck with a huge contract this season due to a major change in the NHL rules.
The NHL announced on Tuesday that changes included in the next Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) would go into effect a year ahead of schedule. As such, the Canadiens, like every other NHL club, will have to abide by the new provisions of the next CBA.
The changes mean that the Canadiens may not be able to trade the final year of Carey Price’s contract. The reason behind this situation is the end of the so-called “LTIR loophole.”
This loophole allowed teams to put contracts on long-term injured reserve, use the additional cap space to get extra players, and then activate players on LTIR in the postseason. Even when players on LTIR don’t ever suit up, it allows teams to spend to the cap limit and then utilize LTIR to get more players at the trade deadline.
That situation is over now that there will be a salary cap for the playoffs. In other words, playoff teams like the Canadiens will need to be cap compliant during the postseason, like in the regular season.
While that may not be a problem for the Canadiens in and of itself, it could mean that Carey Price’s contract could now become untradeable.
Canadiens Long Rumored to Move Price’s Contract
The Canadiens have long been rumored to be looking to move Carey Price’s contract. Specifically, a report on RG Media placed the deadline to trade Price’s contract as September 1. However, that date has come and gone, and no deal is in place.
The CBA rule change could be the reason behind the lack of movement. Contending teams that could have interest in the additional cap space could find little value in the contract. Even though Price won’t play, only a truly desperate contending club might be willing to deal for Price’s contract.
Even then, the Canadiens shouldn’t expect to get a massive haul. A team interested in landing the extra cap space may send a late-round pick for it.
It’s also worth pointing out that the Canadiens don’t want to place Price’s contract on LTIR just to get under the cap themselves. As it stands, the Canadiens are over the cap, including Price’s cap hit.
By removing Price’s cap hit, the Canadiens open up about $4 million in cap space. So, there’s an incentive for Montreal to move the final year of Price’s contract. But there isn’t much incentive for other teams to pay up.
Teams Needing to Hit Cap Floor Could Trade for Price’s Contract
One of the teams that has emerged as a potential party for Price’s contract is the San Jose Sharks. While the Sharks are currently above the cap floor, they may trade some contracts throughout the season. If that’s the case, they may struggle to hit the cap floor.
The same goes for the Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins. Even so, the likelihood of either club paying a steep price for Price’s contract is low.
Unfortunately, the Canadiens, whether they like it or not, could be unable to move Price’s contract for this season. Then, Price’s contract officially comes off the books next summer.
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