Western Conference Team Named as Top Landing Spot for Canadiens’ Carey Price

Lajoie's "costly" reference was related to the bonus money Price is owed, with that figure being $5.5 million set to be paid by the Canadiens on Sept. 1.

Once that payment is completed, Price will have one year left in his contract at a $10.5 million cap hit, which, along with Montreal's $5.9 million-over-the-cap situation, is the main reason for the Habs to pursue a trade.

“I’ve heard Price’s contract being in play for a while; things should shake loose as of September 1st or soon after,” a source told D’Amico. “I can’t see the Canadiens going into the season with that anchor on their salary cap.”

Western Conference Teams Showing Interest

Lajoie mentioned the Western Conference, without specifying any particular franchise, as a potential destination for Price in a trade with Montreal.

"(Canadiens general manager Kent) Hughes is reportedly willing to trade picks, especially in the first round, to add a natural center to his roster," Lajoie wrote. "A complex but effective deal, just like the GM likes, is in the making. The Western Conference is one to watch."

D'Amico quoted sources confirming Lajoie's information once again, naming the San Jose Sharks as the team with the most interest in landing Price's deal and cap hit.

"Sources have heard the most amount of noise around the San Jose Sharks, who are just $5M over the salary cap floor, with nine unrestricted free agents — five of which are defensemen — that could be prime trade candidates," D'Amico wrote. "Acquiring a contract like Price's would give them the necessary insurance to trade some of their higher-priced players without dipping under the salary cap floor."

The Sharks are sitting just $5 million over the salary floor and could be chasing some insurance for when they move higher-salaried players closer to the trade deadline, having enough room to avoid falling below the mandatory cap floor.

The Canadiens drafted Price with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2005 NHL draft, and he's spent his entire career in Montreal. Price became one of the most decorated goaltenders in franchise history, recording 361 wins, including 49 shutouts, and posting a .917 save percentage.

Price will close his career having won the Hart, Vezina, Jennings, and Ted Lindsay Awards, all of them in the 2014-15 season. In 2021, he backstopped Montreal to the Stanley Cup Final, cementing his legacy despite falling short of a championship.