If this is the year the Montreal Canadiens take the next step in planning, they will have to move on from Carey Price and his contract. That’s exactly what Candyns general manager Kent Hughes did on Friday. He traded Price’s contract with the San Jose Sharks and won a fifth-round draft pick in exchange for Gannon Laroque.
Carey Price’s last match was at the end of the 2021-22 season. He won the victory on April 29, 2022. This is the ideal way to go out. Price has been dealing with a knee injury, dating back to the 2021 Canadiens’ Stanley Cup final. But Montreal has been operating at LTIR for the past few seasons because they know the price will never play again. It allows them to attract players like Kirby Dach (also injured), Alex Newhook, Patrik Laine and Alexandre Carrier.
NHL Rumor: Carey Price’s contract will be seriously worn on Montreal Canadians
Montreal made it to the playoffs last season through a bad Eastern Conference. They were supposed to play meaningful games last year, and this year marks the year for the Canadiens to enter the playoffs. That’s what the team is going to get into this season. However, to take the next step, more work needs to be added to the team to fill the holes left by the players who leave.
After acquiring Noah Dobson from New York Islanders and signing an eight-year contract for $9.5 million per season, followed by the acquisition of Zachary Bolduc, many expect Canadians to do more and get the second-tier center. It was a quiet summer in Montreal until news broke that the team was moving contracts.
This further adds to the belief that there may be transactions earlier this year, especially restrictions on double reservations.
Unless you are 2 months or more in advance, make it a little less valuable to be a salary broker.
— Marco d’Amico (@mndamico) September 2, 2025
Look, operating again in LTIR won’t allow the Montreal Canadian to consistently enter the postseason contender identity every year. Price’s contract must be relocated.
After the transaction price of $100.5 million #Gohabsgo With an estimated cap space of $4.6 million, there are 23 active players.
No roster action, which can accommodate the annual capped rated deadline of $200.9 million
– Puckpedia (@puckpedia) September 5, 2025
Once the price bonus is paid after Labor Day weekend, given the move will be made. With this move, the Canadians have a cap space of $4.6 million this season and may have accrued salary space of $20 million before the trade deadline. That’s what Kent Hughes plans.
Everyone’s eyes will be in the center of the second line. Kirby Dach is healthy and he is the most important question mark for Canadians. While everyone will focus on the goalkeeper, Kirby Dach’s health is the most critical issue facing the team. They need someone to play with Ivan Demidov and Patrik Laine. They don’t have a second-tier center, it seems they are looking for it.
NHL Rumor: All options on the tables of Mike Matheson and Montreal Canadains
But that doesn’t mean Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton don’t want improvements elsewhere. A good team always wants to improve all areas of the team. That’s what Montreal Canadians are going to do. Similar to last season’s roster freeze, the Canadians may take action again.
Remember that the Canadians are related to Jared McCann of Cleken, Seattle, but now, Kraken is reluctant to trade their lead scorer. Additionally, Canadians will weigh their options when it comes to Mike Matheson and Patrik Laine. The performance this season and the development of young players will determine the team’s progress.
Not to mention the extension of defenseman Lane Hutson, who is entering the final year of his entry-level contract. The New Jersey Devil received by Luke Hughes might be sure what Hutson received. Although Canadians know his worth, it is not a problem.
But the Montreal Canadaens have added to themselves in the future with the move to remove Carey Price’s contract from the books.
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