Few names in hockey carry as much weight as Carey Price. Once the backbone of the Montreal Canadiens, his presence on the roster still looms large—even as he hasn’t played a game in over two years. As the Canadiens inch closer to the end of their rebuild, the conversation around Price has shifted from his on-ice heroics to the massive contract that remains on the books.

With a cap hit that continues to shape the team’s financial landscape, management faces a complex puzzle: how to balance loyalty to a franchise icon with the practical realities of the NHL’s salary cap era.

Recent whispers around the league suggest that Montreal’s front office is exploring every possible avenue, including the once-unthinkable option of trading Price’s contract. It’s a scenario that raises eyebrows and questions in equal measure. What would it take for such a deal to materialize?

Who would be willing to absorb a contract of this magnitude, and what hurdles stand in the way? As the off-season approaches, these questions take on new urgency, setting the stage for a fascinating chapter in the Canadiens’ ongoing evolution.

Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

On July 1st, Carey Price’s contract will enter the final year of its eight-season term.

Even though he hasn’t played a game since April 29, 2022, the Montreal Canadiens have managed fairly well with his $10.5 million cap hit per year.

But now that the team’s rebuild is nearing its end, Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton would certainly welcome the flexibility of not having that salary on their books.

Just imagine what the front office could do without that burden.

They would no longer have to navigate around the salary cap on Day 1 of the season just to fit his contract in-only to place him on LTIR (Long-Term Injured Reserve) on Day 2.

Given how the duo has operated since arriving, it’s clear they will evaluate the option of trading this contract, but is it even a realistic possibility?

A Trade Involving Carey Price: A Truly Viable Option?

In recent days, several people have openly stated they’d be open to trading the former Canadiens goalie’s contract.

They pointed to Price’s actual salary of $2 million in 2025-26 and the opportunity for a low-budget team to easily reach the salary cap floor ($70.6 million).

However, in a recent article, the excellent Nicolas Cloutier added a wrinkle that could complicate things for Hughes.

According to reports, Price’s $5.5 million signing bonus is not due on July 1, but rather on September 1.

That means any team acquiring his contract before that date would be responsible for paying the bonus themselves.

That’s hardly ideal, especially considering, as mentioned earlier, that only “budget” teams would be interested in this kind of deal.

And What About Insurance for Kent Hughes and the Canadiens?

Since Price has been on the injured list for quite some time, insurance comes into play here.

In his article, Cloutier suggests that 60% of the contract (signing bonus and actual salary) could be covered by insurers.

That could help the Canadiens in this matter-but nothing is guaranteed. There’s a lot of speculation involved, as the actual contract details aren’t public.

The bottom line: trading Price’s contract is possible, but still complicated.

In that scenario, the journalist cites the San Jose Sharks ($43.9M), Columbus Blue Jackets ($41.27M), Chicago Blackhawks ($30.97M), and Anaheim Ducks ($38.63M) as potential candidates.

These teams could more easily reach the salary floor by taking on the contract.