As the 2025-26 NHL season approaches, the Montreal Canadiens find themselves in an intriguing position. With Carey Price's contract nearing its end, the team could gain significant financial flexibility, potentially opening the door for a major trade. Price, who has been with the Canadiens since 2007 and is considered one of the best goaltenders in the world, is under contract until the end of the 2025-26 season.
Price's eight-year, $84 million contract, signed in 2017, carries a $10.5 million cap hit. However, his actual salary for the final year is only $7.5 million, with $5.5 million being paid as a signing bonus on September 1st. After this bonus is paid, the remaining $2 million salary is 60% insured, leaving an acquiring team responsible for only $800,000. This makes Price's contract an attractive option for teams looking to reach the salary cap floor.
Several teams could benefit from acquiring Price's contract, including the Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks. These teams could use the cap space to facilitate trades at the deadline without falling below the cap floor. For the Canadiens, trading Price's contract would free up valuable cap space, allowing them to pursue roster upgrades.
General Manager Kent Hughes has indicated that the Canadiens are not looking to make lateral moves or create new holes while filling existing ones. The team is committed to its developmental path and is unlikely to include top prospects like Michael Hage or David Reinbacher in trade discussions. Instead, Hughes and Executive Vice President Jeff Gorton may look to make a trade later in the summer, potentially after September 1st, when Price's contract is off the books.
One area the Canadiens may address is their need for a second-line center. With Kirby Dach's health uncertain, the team may explore trade options to fill this role. Potential targets could include Casey Mittelstadt from the Boston Bruins, although other options like Mason McTavish, Nazem Kadri, and Marco Rossi could also be considered. However, Anaheim Ducks' GM Pat Verbeek is reportedly seeking a top-four, right-handed defenseman like Montreal’s prospect David Reinbacher in exchange for McTavish.
The Canadiens have a projected cap space of around $6 million for the 2025-26 season, but this could increase significantly by trading Price's contract. This would give them the flexibility to add a key player or two and potentially become more competitive. The team has a strong core of young players and a solid cap structure, allowing them to be patient and wait for the right opportunity.
While nothing is imminent, the Canadiens could make a significant trade once Price's contract is moved. The team has been linked to several players, and with increased cap flexibility, they could be in a position to add a valuable piece to their roster. The Canadiens' management has a history of making trades late in the summer, so fans should not be surprised if they make a move in the coming weeks.
