Nobody thought a single medical report could flip an entire franchise on its head—but that’s exactly what happened the moment Carey Price’s latest file hit the Canadiens’ war-room table.

Within minutes, hushed phone calls zipped across the league, and a rumor—impossible to confirm, yet too explosive to ignore—leaked out of a downtown Montreal steakhouse.

The whispers? Price’s career in Bleu-Blanc-Rouge may be effectively over, and the front office already has a jaw-dropping plan to weaponize his $10.5-million cap space.

Forget quiet rebuilds or sentimental farewells. According to multiple well-placed insiders, management is plotting a lightning-strike transaction that would yank an under-the-radar, $4.6-million power-play assassin away from a direct rival—using financial gymnastics so daring it’s rumored to have NHL investigators watching flight manifests.

What makes this story even wilder? Sources say a key third party—one that has previously tangled with the salary-cap police—is prepared to grease the gears. Season-ticket holders are already bracing for either euphoria or mutiny; one wrong move could send fans flooding Sainte-Catherine Street in protest.

As the clock ticks toward draft week, every unanswered text and delayed press scrum only deepens the mystery.

So how did the Canadiens reach this crossroads, and which rival superstar is secretly in their crosshairs? Let’s unspool the full, wild chain of events.

Photo of Kent Hughes

Photo credit: New York Times

Since the beginning of the week, many insiders have been constantly talking about the upcoming trade involving Carey Price.

On Monday, it literally felt like it was about to happen at any moment, and today, we’re not even sure it will happen (at all).

That said, TVA Sports’ excellent journalist Nicolas Cloutier published a piece in which he speaks with PuckPedia, the number one experts to consult in this case.

And indeed, they bring a new option, a new avenue for Kent Hughes and the Canadiens.

Acquire a $4.6 Million Forward Instead of Trading Carey Price’s Contract?

The calculation is quite simple.

By simply doing nothing, the Canadiens will “waste” $4.6 million on their salary cap by placing Carey Price on long-term injured reserve.

The two best options are therefore.. either trade him, or maximize the placement of Price’s contract on LTIR.

In both cases, Kent Hughes must act.

It’s very well explained here:

And here:

“If the Canadiens go get a player making $4.6M, for example, they can then maximize their use of LTIR.

The calculation is simple at that point: right now, the club is over the cap by $5.9M and if you add $4.6M, you reach $10.5M.

– DLC

In other words, according to PuckPedia, Kent Hughes has two options.

1- Acquire a player making $4.6 million per year.

2- Trade Carey Price’s contract.

It would be one or the other. Doing nothing would really be the worst-case scenario according to them!

It’s really interesting!

A center like Jared McCann, of the Seattle Kraken, makes $5 million per year!

His name has been linked to the Montreal Canadiens a few times and it could be a possible trade if the Kraken retained $0.4 million of his annual salary.

In short, the next few weeks will be fascinating in this case!