Montreal Canadiens Seek Carey Price Contract Trade With Sharks, Penguins

The Montreal Canadiens are actively seeking to trade veteran goalie Carey Price, whose $10.5 million salary cap hit is a significant burden as he has been out since the 2021-22 season due to injury. The Canadiens aim to free approximately $4.5 million in cap space to bolster their offense for the 2025-26 NHL season and are exploring trade options with several teams. The San Jose Sharks have emerged as the leading candidate to absorb Price's contract, as it would help them stay above the salary cap floor while maintaining roster flexibility. Other interested teams include the Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks, who could use Price's contract strategically to manage their payroll and rebuild efforts despite currently being above the cap floor. Montreal may need to sweeten the deal with draft picks or other assets to facilitate the trade, given the financial and performance considerations involved. Overall, the Canadiens are prepared for multiple roster moves to improve their competitiveness and financial flexibility in the upcoming season.