NHL Rumor Mill – September 1, 2025
Will the Canadiens trade Carey Price’s contract soon? Which teams could they send it to? Find out in the Labor Day edition of the NHL Rumor Mill.
RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico reports sources claim the Montreal Canadiens could trade Carey Price’s contract in the coming days.
Price, 38, has been on LTIR since 2022 as a knee injury ended his career. He’s in the final season of his contract, which carries an average annual value of $10.5 million. However, in actual salary, he’s owed $7.5 million, with $5.5 million paid as a signing bonus on Sept. 1.
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price (NHL Images).
The Canadiens are over the salary cap by $6 million for this season. They can remain above the cap with Price on LTIR, but they won’t be able to accrue cap space during the season. Trading his contract would give them that flexibility, making it easier to acquire talent if necessary before the March trade deadline.
One source told D’Amico that he has heard Price’s contract has been in play for a while, with speculation that things could shake loose on Sept. 1 or soon afterward.
The Canadiens could attempt to peddle Price’s contract to rebuilding clubs. It would enable one of those teams to remain salary-cap compliant if they ship out veteran players by the trade deadline. With Price now only owed $2 million in actual salary, his contract for this season becomes much more affordable.
Sources claim the San Jose Sharks have been mentioned most as a destination. They’re currently sitting just $5 million over the $70.6 million salary-cap minimum for this season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speculation that the Canadiens could trade Price’s contract to a rebuilding club has been percolating in the rumor mill for weeks. Now that his bonus has been paid, we’ll find out soon enough if there is anything to that conjecture.
The Canadiens might have to bundle a mid-range draft pick, perhaps a third-rounder, as a sweetener. Price has a full no-movement clause, but he’s not going to block a move if it happens.
TVA SPORTS: Jean-Charles Lajoie also speculated that Price’s contract could be moved as early as Sept. 1. He also suggested it could be part of a larger deal.
Lajoie claimed Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes could be inclined to part with draft picks, particularly in the first round, to acquire a natural center.
The Canadiens have been linked to Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks and Jared McCann of the Seattle Kraken. So far, nothing has materialized.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The main thing for the Canadiens is clearing Price’s cap hit from their books this season. It will give them greater cap flexibility to pursue a second-line center at any point in the season, though the longer they wait, the more cap space they’ll have by the trade deadline.
It would be a significant move by Hughes if he could land McTavish, but a recent report by Eric Stephens of The Athletic indicated the Ducks intend to re-sign the 22-year-old center.
As for McCann, the Kraken reportedly aren’t moving him. Besides, he’s played on the wing for most of his tenure in Seattle.
RDS.CA: Rebuilding clubs like the Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks, and Pittsburgh Penguins could use Price’s contract to ensure they remain cap-compliant if they stage a sell-off before the trade deadline.
For example, the Penguins might be tempted to trade players like Bryan Rust or Rickard Rakell. They could also attempt to trade Kris Letang, Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby, but they would have a say if any of them were to leave Pittsburgh.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks are over the cap floor by roughly $6.2 million. Trade candidates would include pending unrestricted free agents such as Nick Foligno ($4.5 million), Jason Dickinson ($4.5 million), Ilya Mikheyev ($4.03 million), Connor Murphy ($4.4 million), and Laurent Brossoit ($3.3 million).
The Sharks could shop UFA-eligible players such as Alexander Wennberg ($5 million), Jeff Skinner ($3 million), Nick Leddy ($4 million), John Klingberg ($4 million), Mario Ferraro ($3.25 million), Timothy Liljegren ($3 million), and Alex Nedeljkovic ($2.5 million).
As for the Penguins, they’re above the cap floor by over $12 million. They could also try to move Kevin Hayes ($3.571 million), Anthony Mantha ($2.5 million), Matt Dumba ($3.5 million), and Connor Clifton ($3.333 million).
It’s unlikely Letang, Malkin, and Crosby will hit the trade block, especially as this season is Malkin’s last with the Penguins and possibly the last of his playing career.
Specifically, should Price’s contract be dealt today, for example, Montreal would jump from a cap deficit of $5,931,667 to a cap reserve of $4,568,333 with 23 committed to heading into camp – 14F 7D 2G.
And in a good position to make one more significant move before the season opener.
So the question becomes home much draft capital does 2 million bucks buy. A third as Kyle says? Seems like a lot of money for a mid range pick. But I think that’s consistent with past similar transactions
Not $2 M Chrisms, see my response
It’s only $400 K
If it was $2 M in actual commitments by team; just looking at Marleau deal; then return would be at least a 1st and a 2nd; and Habs in no way parting with that
“So the question becomes home much draft capital does 2 million bucks buy.”
Insurance pays 60% so the team trading for Price gets $10 million cap use for a cost of $8000,000.
What is that worth for a team to unload conservatively $6 million in contracts , cash in pocket and 2-3 let’s say 3rd round picks.?
On the broadcasts they said Price’s insurance covers 80% ($1.6 M) so team acquiring pays $400 K
If you are right At $600K, the return has to be higher
Google’s AI might say 80% but it’s wrong.
Insurance pays 60% of Price’s salary.
Searching media ; different sites have it 60% covered (“buying” team pays $800 K ); 70% covered (“buying” team pays $600 K ); 80% covered (“buying” team pays $400K );
La Rose (habsworld.net):
“between 60% and 80% thrown out there. It’s not publicly disclosed but we’re talking about an acquiring team taking on either $400,000 or $800,000 in actual salary payments. “
Acquiring team will know for sure, how much (between $400 K and $800 K) they are actually on the hook for
@ $800 K; it would have to be a 2nd, with no pick (later rounds coming back) ; and no way Habs are giving up a 2nd
And per many sites; Habs are considering moving the contract (and Cap) for a pick
To me, these combined pieces of info indicate insurance company has to be paying at least 70%, and more than likely 80% (or close to)
No team should consider paying $800 K; AND in the process, doing Habs a favor; just to get a pick in and around 80th OA. That would not make sense.
Hi habfan30
See my response further down.
Actual insurance coverage is NOT publicly known; but every media site I’ve searched; has speculation in the 60%-80% range
At only 6O% acquiring team would be “buying” a pick for $800 K AND doing Habs a big favor
That would have to be worth a 2nd at least
Habs won’t be willing to part with a 2nd; but ARE said to be willing to part with a pick to move him
If so, that’s a 3rd at best (if refusing to part with a 2nd); and no team pays $800 K for a pick in the 80th-85th spot
To me that’s a sign that Ins. Is covering more than 60% (and likely in the 70% -80% range)
Any GM paying $800 K; AND simultaneously doing a “solid” for another GM; AND only getting an 80th-85th OA in return; needs to be fired; immediately!
What makes a deal with San Jose a bit trickier than with most in their position is that they are currently the team closest to the 50 max contracts filled with 49, so sending a prospect along with the Price contract could be somewhat problematic, unless they moved one out in a separate deal.
In that regard, the fewest at 40 signed is Chicago, with Anaheim, Calgary, Nashville and Ottawa all at 42.
HAPPY Labour day!
Summer coming to a end, my kids going back to University today.
Hockey season about to get going.
Sid, Malkin and Letang are not going to be traded.
Probably not … but I hope you’re prepared to see your team wallow out of the playoffs until their contracts run out.
Yeah, Penguins will be bad…hoping for Gavin!!!
Re “With Price now only owed $2 million in actual salary, his contract for this season becomes much more affordable.”
His contract is even more affordable than that as apparently his insurance contract has insurance company picking up 80%; so acquiring tram (NOTE : WITH Cap space) is paying only $400 K
From recent years TDL retention trades; actual cash retention in the $100 K – $250 K often got 4th rounders in return
Leafs dumped Marleau’s cap hit with $1.25 M cash remaining ; and gave up a 1st and a 7th (NOTE: got a 6th back from Carolina)
So $100 K — $250 K “buys” a 4th
and $1.25 M buys just a tad over a 1st
For Price’s $400 K tab; that should equate to somewhere in the early 3rd round range?!?!
Maybe a 2nd; but get an early 4th in return?!?!
That said; perhaps there is a one stop major deal to be had:
Maybe Trade Price plus large value return to Ducks for McTavish;
Or Price ++ for EK (50%)
Or Price ++ for Rust
Etc etc
My hopes are for Price ++ for EK (50%)
Note : Habs 3rd rounder likely in the late 70’s/early 80’s pick position
Giving up a 2nd and getting an early 4th:
Is flipping around low 50’s pick for around 100th pick
I hope you aren’t holding your breath waiting for that to happen!
I am holding my breath; and sticking pins in voodoo dolls; and saying hundreds of prayers; and worshiping Buddha ; and rubbing bald heads and horse shoes; crossing fingers, toes, eyes; and basically yelling PLEASE at the top of my lungs
We don’t need 4 NHL RHDs; while simultaneously preventing youngsters from playing AND while paying Clifton $3.3 M to be in the press box
And The Habs do not need another RHD
8787, right at the moment Puckpedia shows Pittsburgh with a 23-man roster of 13F 8F 2G, the 8d being: 4 RD Karlsson, Letang, Dumba, Clifton and also 4 at LD Graves, Wotherspoon, Shea and Alexeyev.
Do you see them entering the season carrying 8D? That would be unusual, and it would make more sense to farm out one of Shea or Alexeyev, and with Karlsson and Letang likely to miss more games here and there with dings due to their … err … advancing years, having Clifton as the 7th D dressed to fill in when necessary would seem to make the most sense.
Under no circumstances should (read as “better not” Instead of “unlikely”) Pens carry those 8 D
Pickering definitely needs to be on the Pens; and Brunicke almost made roster last year as an 18 year old!!!
It’s insane to carry those 4 righties; trade one at least is best; worst case bury 1 and trade 1
Wortherspoon rightfully stays up; Pens won’t bury Graves
So one or both of Shea and Alex Squared IV, needs to be playing in WBS; so that at least Pickering comes up and perhaps Brunicke
Ideally Karllson is moved and Pens have on roster:
Tanger/Pickering
Dumba/Wootherspoon
Brunicke/Alex Squared IV
Graves (7th)
Clifton (if they keep 8)
In addition: there are at least 2 forwards that in no way warrant being on the 23 man roster; taking up youth spots. NO WAY warrant!!!Those 2 are Hayes and Accari
As at now, Puckpedia shows the following players (all under 25, ALL better than both Hayes and Accairi) below the line (not ON Pens; but on WBS):
McGroarty, Howe, Koivenen; Poulin, Ponoronov
Add to that the following 25 and 26 year olds (showing on Puckpedia below the line) better than Hayes/Accairi:
Pustinen, Kopenen, “Your Mama” (Imama)
Ideally for Pens:
1)move/ bury Hayes, Accairi, Clifton (burying these guys is easiest)
2) Trade EK (at 50%) for *young NHLer winger; and prospect
3) Trade Lizotte for a 3rd
4) Trade Rust, PLUS 3rd (above trade); PLUS 2nd (‘27) for **young NHLer C and prospect
Roster then
Sid/Rackell/Mantha
Gino/Tomasino/*young NHLer winger
**Young NHLer C/Brazeau/McGroarty
Novak/Heinen/Dewar
Depth//3th/14th Fwds from: Howe, Koivenen; Poulin, Ponoronov, and possibly from prospects above
Tanger/Pickering
Dumba/Wootherspoon
Brunicke/Alex Squared IV
Graves (7th)
Clifton (if they keep 8)
Jarry/Silovs
No matter what; if no moves are made; Pens still finish with 7th to 11th pick; no McGavin; and falling attendance
Make just some moves; heck, just make the EK trade and bury Hayes/Accari/Clifton and then perhaps the pick range drops 2 or 3 spots to 10th-14th; but Pend better long term; fans’ falling attendance is stemmed; long term hope is restored… all for dropping 2-3 spots in draft (player won’t play until 28/29 anyway) is well worth it
Dubas MUST do something. As is…. Disaster for franchise ling term AND short term
When Marleau was traded cap space was at a premium, now not so much. If anyone get a 3rd out of Montreal, they should take it
Granted, and it certainly was at a premium for Leafs then
Was just using the figures to drive home the point of costs for picks
Re: “If anyone get a 3rd out of Montreal, they should take it”:
A 3rd will be a minimum; and that’s only if insurance pays $1.6 M (80%) ; leaving “buying” price of 3rd at $400 K
That’s $400 K for at very best, a journeyman 4th/depth player who doesn’t lace up in NHL until28/29
Have there been career players drafted in mid-late 3rd rounds; yes there have; but $400 K is a lot to pay for that very low probability event
Habs don’t HAVE to move Price; but might “LIKE” to move him
No team, including Sharks and Ducks are “seeking” to buy a mid 3rd rounder for $400 K. They might do it; but they are not “seeking” or in the market for it at that price
And, most importantly, any GM who “buys” a mid 3rd rounder (in around low 80’th OA) pick for $800 K (insurance only covering 60% of Price’s salary); needs to be fired immediately
I thought the Hawks would have already moved Murphy. He is a serviceable RHD when healthy.
Why would anyone do the habs a favor. When a cap floor team trades one of there players at the deadline they could just offer to take salary back. Other team might give more in the trade if let’s say San Jose takes on of there bad contracts back. It makes no sense to me why a team would just say hey I’ll take 2 million of your hands and you just give me a bag of garbage. It’s 2 million dollars for freak sakes.
Draft picks or maybe even prospect. Smart building teams can use either, that leaves the Sabres out of the discussions.
You guys don’t seem to understand that trading Price’s contract has no impact on anything the Habs do this year.
If there’s a trade, the Habs have more room to make another trade.
If they keep Price’s contract they put him on LTIR at the start of the season, and they have the same cap room to make a trade.
Any impact would be next year with bonuses causing an approximate $1.5m cap penalty, which in theory will be mitigated by another cap increase.
Not saying that there’s no benefit, but clearly the team trading for him has a benefit too.
Trades aren’t done as “favors” , each team feels it’s benefiting.
Does the 23 man roster not have to be registered with the NHL before they can place player on LTIR?? They must be first be placed on IRL prior to the start of the season. The teams are given some buffer in this by being allowed 10% over the cap ceiling prior at the start of the season, before teams can place players on LTIR.
That being the case with 10% of the salary cap this year being 8.8 million dollars, the Habs would still need to shed 1.7 million dollars off of their 23 man roster. Who & how??
Would they waive Kirby Dach hoping no one would touch him due to being injury prone???
10% of $95,500,00 is a bit higher at$ 9,550,000
Even if the Habs move Price’s contract, I don’t believe they are as desperate for a second line center as most believe.
So think about this, if Demidov & Laine are the two wingers on the second line, Demidov would be the driver of this line, Laine the gunner.
So what kind of center would compliment these offensive minded wingers??? A centerman, who wins faceoffs & takes his role of first man back in his own zone.
Enter Jake Evans, is the ideal candidate??? No, but starting the play with puck possession is a huge part of a successful offensive minded line.
This could give some buffer to keeping the Habs from making a knee jerk reaction until some of the kids mature into that role.
Re “?? A centerman, who wins faceoffs & takes his role of first man back in his own zone.”
Would you accept just the winning face offs? We have your answer. He just doesn’t know where his own zone is; and even if he did; he doesn’t have the ability to skate back to hid own zone before the next commercial break:
Hayes and Accairi (you can bury both) and a 3rd to boot; and we’ll give you a B prospect as well; for taking on Price contract
Another bit of a hurdle is raised by Jim Parsons at HockeyWriters
“Speculation surrounding Carey Price’s trade is gaining momentum, with reports suggesting a trade could be finalized soon. After his $5.5 million signing bonus is paid (today), Price’s contract becomes especially attractive: just a $2 million salary but a $10.5 million cap hit, ideal for teams seeking cap relief without major spending. Clubs like San Jose or Chicago have been floated as potential destinations.
However, tax implications could complicate matters. NHL insider Jeff Marek notes that, depending on how the NHL taxes players on LTIR, Price could face higher taxes in certain U.S. states or benefit in no-tax states — potentially influencing his willingness to waive his no-trade clause.
While a trade remains possible, and Price has said in the past he wouldn’t stand in the way of the Canadiens making a trade if it helped the organization, losing money by accepting a trade to certain markets may change the dynamics a bit.”
Price has already been paid the bulk of his contract. He’s also been paid his $5.5 million signing bonus, leaving just $2 million in actual salary. I doubt he’ll lose sleep over his contract going to a club in a market with higher taxes.
” depending on how the NHL taxes players on LTIR, Price could face higher taxes in certain U.S. states or benefit in no-tax states — potentially influencing his willingness to waive his no-trade clause.”
The NHL doesn’t treat taxation, or designate class of taxation, governments do.
I keep hearing how there are all kinds of tax advantages in certain US States but I have never ever heard Quebec rated as a tax haven or advantaged.
Heh. I was just about to raise that same issue. Then there’s B.C. to consider as well since they make their home in Kelowna. Wouldn’t they be involved in some fashion?
Teams must hit the cap floor in order to take part in revenue sharing. A team close to the floor could take advantage of a $10 million contract if they believe that they will get a good return on some roster veterans while not risking the thing they are really after in the present: revenue sharing. Many teams would not survive without it.