It’s official, the Montreal Canadiens have traded goaltender Carey Price to the San Jose Sharks.
The Habs had to add a fifth-round pick (2026) to sweeten the deal, while also acquiring defenceman Gannon Laroque from San Jose.
This comes on the heels of multiple reports that the Canadiens have been attempting to unload Price’s contract, which is set to expire this summer. Montreal paid the final signing bonus of the contract on Monday, which means Price will only be owed $2 million, while his salary cap hit remains $10.5 million, helping the Sharks ensure they remain above the cap floor all season long.
ON TOPIC: Key Factors In A Potential Carey Price Trade
The Canadiens acquire defenseman Gannon Laroque from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for goaltender Carey Price and a fifth-round pick in 2026.
News release ↓ #GoHabsGohttps://t.co/hnwKBe7FE0
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Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks
We will discuss the advantages the Canadiens will now have in the trade market via an article that will be published shortly, but suffice it to say this is a good move for the Habs.
The Canadiens traded Price’s contract to improve their financial manoeuvrability, as putting a player’s contact on the long-term injured reserve limits the team’s options, since those additional funds do not accrue, unlike regular cap space.
Without the trade, it would have been quite difficult for the Canadiens to find the funds necessary to improve the roster, especially since they want to find a player who can fill the No.2 centre gap.
It also signals the end of an era, seeing as Price served as the team’s best player for an entire generation of Montreal Canadiens fans, who are surely sad to see the trade go through, even if Price will never suit up for the Sharks.
From start to finish, Price represented the best of the Canadiens, a situation that is reflected by the unwavering support he received from the fan base throughout his impressive career in Montreal.