When you mention Carey Price for every fan of Montreal Canadiens, you see the joy coming to their face. A Montreal icon that held the hearts and spirits of an entire province. Just like the great goalkeepers of the Habs past, such as Patrick Roy, Ken Dryden and Jacques Plante, Price will go in history as the superstar of this generation. However, all things have to come to an end, and in the last year of his contract it is time for the organization to let his contract go and use the money wisely.
Price was not always the hero
When the prize was drawn up, many fans wondered why Bob Gainy (at the time the General Manager/GM) would draw up a goalie fifth against general when it was a score-forecast, they needed the most in 2005. They finally had Jose Theodore, who was two seasons of the most of the Nhl) and Vezina trophies The top of the 2003-Ald. .917 Save percentage (SV%) and 2.27 goals-to-average (GAA) (GAA) (GAA)2004-05 season was canceled because of lockout).
Price also had a rocky start of his NHL career, not so much in the regular season, where he would split tasks with Cristobal Huet and then Jaroslav Halak. It was the play-offs where he struggled, so much so that Halak took over in the play-offs of 2010 and almost on his own the Canadiens led to the Stanley Cup final, but was put into the conference final by the Philadelphia Flyers. After this run, many fans were divided about which goalkeeper Montreal should keep; Both required contracts. In the end, management went with price and the rest is history. Price would be a superstar and lead the Habs to the final of the conference before a knee injury ended his play -off run in 2014, and then to the Stanley Cup final in 2021, where they lost from the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Price’s contract has become a burden
Since 2021, Price has hardly played because of injuries and after playing only five games in 2021-22, he completely stopped hockey. With four years left on his contract and not officially retiring, the Canadiens have been on the hook for his $ 10.5 million contract, whether or not he plays. This causes a problem for the team and its CAP situation, because a considerable amount is assigned to a player who does not play. In the past three seasons, Kent Hughes, the current GM of the Habs, has had to navigate the complicated rules of Long -term injury reserve (LTIR)As a result, the team can use the player’s cap -hit to go over the doplimite, but with laws and regulations. For example, the team must be CAP compatible with Price’s full $ 10.5 million under the CAP at the start of the season.
If they have dop space left when they place the price on LTIR, they lose the difference between the average previous value of Price (AAV) and which CAP space remains. Suppose he has to go on LTIR to let the Cap team meet at the start of the season. In that case the team must put him on LTIR before the season, and they can only use what remains on its AAV. For example, if they have $ 6 million over in cap space, but the price passes, they only have $ 4.5 million to work with from the LTIR -Pool. LTIR -money is also not built up and cannot be used later. As you can see, there are numerous problems and obstacles for using LTIR. Although Hughes has managed Price’s LTIR fairly well, it would be easier for him to completely trad the contract now that the team is switching from the rebuilding phase to the play -off/fighting phase.
Which teams would be interested and what would an exchange look like?
The biggest question is which team would like to make a $ 10.5 million contract, and why it would benefit them to do this. Most teams that are on or near the dop floor would like to add to their cap -space to prevent them from touching on the trade deadline when they move players for concept choices. So far, only four teams within $ 10 million of the dop floor are set at $ 70.6 million for the 2025-26 season; Of those four teams, only the Chicago Blackhawks and the San Jose Sharks are in a complete rebuilding. The other two teams, the Anaheim Ducks and Columbus Blue Jackets, are in a state of Limbo, not sure in which direction they are going.
Related: Carey Price: Saying goodbye to a Canadiens -legend
With the field limited to a handful of teams, the Blackhawks and Sharks fit the best to take on Price’s contract. The Canadiens are over the cap with $ 5.93 million and have to take a step to meet the season opener. Price is due in September a signing bonus, and once that is paid, it is easier to move his contract, because it only goes to the player’s real money. Not only will the moving price cover their cap overages, but it will also leave them more than $ 4 million in CAP space for the rest of the season, which can help them improve the team before the start of the season or during it.
The sharks or Blackhawks can benefit Because it gives them the freedom to exchange larger contracts at the deadline to acquire high draws for their rebuilding, so that they can stay above the cap floor. However, the Canadiens may have to specify one or two draws to facilitate the contract movement. Next season they have 10 concept choices, four of them in the first three rounds, but only one first round pick. Because both San Jose and Chicago will be helped, it can only cost the HABS a second round pick or a first round pick in 2027. Hughes is also good at getting the best deal for his team; He could even save his choices and throw in a prospect instead.
Everything suggests that Price’s term of office in Montreal comes to an end before he retires. It is sad to think about it from the point of view of a fan, but from a business perspective it makes sense for the organization. Perhaps before he officially retires, he can sign a one -day contract with Montreal and retire a Canadian.
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