The Montreal Canadiens face one of the most complex salary-cap situations in the NHL as they approach the 2025-26 season. Already pressed against the ceiling, the team desperately needs to clear space before opening night. While management has explored multiple options, from moving contracts to considering short-term workarounds, one particular deal has captured widespread attention.
The spotlight intensified after a $5.5 million signing bonus was paid out on September 1. That payment significantly lowered the long-term financial burden of one contract, sparking immediate speculation that a blockbuster trade could be imminent.
Could Carey Price’s Contract Be the Key to Montreal’s Cap Puzzle?
At the heart of the Canadiens’ cap crunch sits goaltender Carey Price, who hasn’t played since 2022 but remains under contract through 2026 on an $84 million deal. While his playing career is effectively over, the contract continues to count against Montreal’s books. League insiders believe the Canadiens are actively seeking a way to move it.
The situation gained momentum when Price’s wife, Angela, addressed the speculation directly during a social media Q&A session. When asked how she would feel if Montreal traded the contract, she replied candidly: “Probably the same way most of Montreal would feel… But ultimately you want what’s best for the team.”
Her comments arrived at a strategic moment. The September 1 signing bonus payment has made Price’s contract significantly more attractive to potential buyers. While the cap hit remains $10.5 million annually, the actual salary owed has dropped to just $2 million per season for the remaining years.
According to TVA Sports’ Jean-Charles Lajoie, fans should “be on the lookout” for a deal, with a Western Conference team most likely to emerge as the destination. Analyst Marco D’Amico noted that the San Jose Sharks have generated the “most noise” as a possible landing spot, given their available cap space and need to reach the league’s salary floor.
How Would Moving Price Transform Montreal’s Future?
Price has defined the Canadiens franchise for nearly two decades. Drafted fifth overall in 2005, he became the franchise leader in wins with 361 and collected both the Hart and Vezina Trophies in 2015. His playoff performance during the 2021 Stanley Cup Final run remains one of the most memorable individual efforts in recent Canadiens history.
However, persistent knee injuries ended his playing career in 2022. Earlier this year, Price acknowledged that returning to the ice was no longer realistic. Though retired in all but name, his contract continues to create significant obstacles for Montreal’s roster construction.
Trading the contract would provide general manager Kent Hughes with immediate cap relief and eliminate the team’s reliance on long-term injured reserve placement. That flexibility becomes crucial during the season, as LTIR restricts the team’s ability to make roster moves and accumulate cap space for potential deadline acquisitions.
For the Price family, the possibility of a trade appears to be understood, even if bittersweet. Angela Price’s measured response suggests the family recognizes the business reality facing the organization. After nearly 20 years of unwavering loyalty to Montreal, both sides seem prepared for an unconventional but necessary conclusion to one of hockey’s most storied partnerships.
