The Carey Price Trade Saga: Why the Montreal Canadiens Are Holding All the Cards

0 Diana khan September 03, 2025

The hockey world is buzzing with rumors about a potential Carey Price trade, but if you ask Montreal Canadiens GM Kent Hughes, it’s a whole lot of smoke without a fire. While the idea of shedding Price’s $10.5 million cap hit is appealing for a team in the midst of a rebuild, the reality is far more complex. The Habs are playing the long game, and they’re not about to make a move that doesn’t benefit them in the long run.

The LTIR Advantage

For the past three seasons, the Canadiens have strategically used the long-term injury reserve (LTIR) to manage Price’s contract. This has allowed them to remain cap-compliant while keeping the door open for a potential return that, let’s be honest, is unlikely to happen. But it also gives them leverage. They don’t have to trade him. They can continue to use LTIR and wait for the right offer to come along. And that’s the key here: the right offer.

The San Jose Sharks have been floated as a potential trade partner, and it makes sense on the surface. They’re a team with cap space looking to reach the floor. But any deal would require the Canadiens to sweeten the pot with an asset, and that’s where things get tricky. What asset are they willing to part with? A draft pick? A prospect? The price has to be right, and Hughes isn’t going to overpay to solve a problem that, for now, is manageable.

The Canadiens are in the driver’s seat. They have a valuable asset in Price’s contract, and they’re not going to give it away for nothing. They can afford to be patient and wait for a deal that makes sense for their long-term vision. So, while the rumors will continue to swirl, don’t be surprised if Carey Price is still a Canadien when the season starts.