The Montreal Canadiens are likely to trade the contract of star goalie Carey Price after September 1, when his bonus is due.
Price hasn’t played in an NHL game since April 29, 2022, due to a knee injury. However, he hasn’t officially retired as he’s still under contract, and this upcoming season is the final year of his deal. With that, Canadiens insider Marc Dumont of MontrealHockeyNow believes Montreal will trade his contract to a West Coast team.
“Unlike regular cap space, the LTIR funds do not accrue, which means if the Canadiens were to place Price’s contract on LTIR today, they would have more money to work with, but they would lose a lot of financial flexibility compared to regular cap space,” Dumont wrote. “Ideally, the team would trade Price’s contract to an organization that needs to reach the salary-cap floor next season, solving both problems in one fell swoop, much like the multiple deals that saw Shea Weber’s contract change hands three times in the last few seasons.
“By moving the contract, the Canadiens would start to accrue cap space throughout the season, giving them an advantage come the trade deadline, should they want to improve their roster, or absorb a bad contract in exchange for an asset,” Dumont added. “As it stands, both the Anaheim Ducks and the San Jose Sharks are below the cap, making them logical trade partners for the Canadiens. On that note, there are a few other important factors in play which will delay any action concerning Price’s contract.”
After September 1, the acquiring team would only pay $2 million, but it would allow a team to reach the cap floor, like the Sharks.
Canadiens Would Likely Have to Add a Sweenter in Price Deal
Although Montreal would be on the hook for most of the salary, the acquiring team would likely require a sweetener in the deal.
The acquiring team would still have to pay $2 million, so Dumont expects the Canadiens to have to add a mid-round pick in the trade.
“Beyond helping the teams reach the cap floor, the Habs may have to sweeten the pot by adding a mediocre draft pick to the mix, a fair price considering the improved financial flexibility that would result from the inevitable Carey Price trade,” Dumont wrote. “It probably wouldn’t be enough to land a bona fide No. 2 center, but it would give Hughes and Co. more options down the line, a significant boon for a team with legitimate playoff hopes.”
Price is entering the final year of the eight-year, $84 million deal. He’s a seven-time NHL All-Star and a one-time Vezina winner.
Canadiens’ Price Admits He Misses Hockey
Price was one of the best goalies of his generation, and his career was cut short due to a knee injury.
Price is still around the game with the Canadiens, and he admits he misses playing hockey, but his knee injury was too serious.
“Yeah, I miss hockey,” Price said to NHL.com. “I miss the games, I have such a competitive spirit. I liked the energy, the preparation and the routine of game day. But I don’t really miss being on my knees 200 times during a single practice.”
Price was surprisingly not inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame this year, which was his first year eligible.
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