Canadiens Send Carey Price to the Sharks
In a strategic move, the Montreal Canadiens have finalized a trade involving goaltender Carey Price, sending him to the San Jose Sharks. In return, the Canadiens receive defenseman Gannon Laroque and a fifth-round pick in the 2026 draft.
Price, who hasn’t played in the NHL since April 29, 2022, was limited to only five games in the 2021-22 season due to meniscus surgery. Subsequently, he was placed on long-term injured reserve before the 2022-23 season and has remained there ever since.
This season marks the end of Price’s eight-year, $84 million contract. After the Canadiens paid him a $5.5 million bonus on September 1, they were able to trade his $10.5 million salary cap hit to San Jose.
Before this transaction, Montreal exceeded the NHL salary cap by $5.9 million. With Price’s departure, the Canadiens are now projected to have $4.56 million available in salary cap space.
Price, with a distinguished career in Montreal, accumulated a save percentage of .917 and a goals-against average of 2.51 in 712 games. He was recognized as one of the most decorated goaltenders of his generation, achieving a milestone in the 2014-15 season by being the first goaltender to win the Hart Trophy, the Vezina Trophy, the Ted Lindsay Award, and a share of the William M. Jennings Trophy in a single season. In addition, Price holds the record for most wins in Canadiens history, with 361.
The Price family was preparing for a possible move out of Montreal. Angela, Price’s wife, commented on social media about the possibility of the Canadiens trading her husband’s contract, expressing that, although she understood the situation, “in the end, you want what’s best for the team.”
In the exchange, the Canadiens acquire Laroque, a 22-year-old defenseman. Laroque, selected in the fourth round (103rd) by San Jose in 2021, has yet to debut in the NHL.
