Potential Canadiens Trade Partners To Move Price’s Contract

Even though the Montreal Canadiens are currently a few millions dollars over the salary cap for 2025-26, it’s far from a dire situation for Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton.

According to the good people over at Cap Wages, the Habs have over $98 million on the books, leaving them roughly $3.4 million above the salary cap. The calculation doesn’t include placing Carey Price’s contract on the long term injury reserve (LTIR), which means they could immediately add $10.5 million in cap space at any time.

However, having to deal with the LTIR funds is not an ideal situation for the Canadiens.

Unlike regular cap space, the LTIR funds do not accrue, which means if the Canadiens were to place Price’s contract on LTIR today, they would have more money to work with, but they would lose a lot of financial flexibility compared to regular cap space. Ideally, the team would trade Price’s contract to an organization that needs to reach the salary-cap floor next season, solving both problems in one fell swoop, much like the multiple deals that saw Shea Weber’s contract change hands three times in the last few seasons.

By moving the contract, the Canadiens would start to accrue cap space throughout the season, giving them an advantage come the trade deadline, should they want to improve their roster, or absorb a bad contract in exchange for an asset.

Potential Montreal Canadiens Trade Partners

As it stands, both the Anaheim Ducks and the San Jose Sharks are below the cap, making them logical trade partners for the Canadiens. On that note, there are a few other important factors in play which will delay any action concerning Price’s contract.

The signing bonus for the final year of his contract is set to be paid on September 1, and it’s not a small sum by any means. Price will receive a $5.5 million cheque, which, in turn, means that he will still carry a $10.5 million cap hit, but will only cost the team acquiring him $2 million in actual money, making it a cost-effective avenue to reach the cap floor.

A lot can change between now and September 1, connoting that other clubs could enter the discussion, especially if they pull the trigger on a rebuild and are struggling to reach the cap floor. The Chicago Blackhawks have plenty of cap space, as do the Seattle Kraken and Pittsburgh Penguins, three clubs who aren’t expected to make the playoffs next season.

Beyond helping the teams reach the cap floor, the Habs may have to sweeten the pot by adding a mediocre draft pick to the mix, a fair price considering the improved financial flexibility that would result from the inevitable Carey Price trade. It probably wouldn’t be enough to land a bona fide No.2 centre, but it would give Hughes and Co. more options down the line, a significant boon for a team with legitimate playoff hopes.

All Montreal Canadiens and NHL salary cap information via Cap Wages. 

Carey Price signing bonus information via Nicolas Cloutier.