Hall of Fame goaltender Ken Dryden passes away at 78, the Canadiens trade Carey Price’s contract to the Sharks, the Flames sign Connor Zary, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Former Montreal Canadiens goaltender and Hall of Famer Ken Dryden died on Friday at age 78 after battling cancer.

Dryden’s NHL career spanned eight seasons (1970-71 to 1978-79), all of them with the Montreal Canadiens. He backstopped them to six Stanley Cups, including four in a row from 1975-76 to 1978-79, with a regular-season record of 258 wins, 57 losses and 74 losses, a 2.24 goals-against average, a save percentage of .922, and 46 shutouts. He won 80 of 112 playoff games, with a 2.41 GAA, an SP of .915, and 10 shutouts.

Hall of Fame goaltender Ken Dryden.

The Canadiens legend became the first player in NHL history to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP (1971) before winning the Calder Memorial Trophy as Rookie of the Year (1971-72). He was a five-time winner of the Vezina Trophy, and played for Team Canada against the Soviet Union in the 1972 Summit Series, playing in the eighth and deciding game.

Dryden retired in 1979. He became the TV analyst for ABC Sports during its coverage of the 1980 Winter Olympics, including the “Miracle on Ice” when Team USA upset the heavily favored Soviet Union. He was a bestselling author of multiple books, including 1983’s “The Game”, considered by many critics as the best book ever written about hockey. He was team president of the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1997-98 to 2002-03, and a member of Canada’s parliament from 2004 to 2011. Dryden was also a tireless advocate for player safety at every level of hockey.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I first began watching hockey in 1970, and like every little kid back then, Boston Bruins defenseman Bobby Orr was my favorite player. That changed in 1971 after watching Dryden and the Canadiens upset Orr and the defending Stanley Cup champion Bruins in the 1971 quarterfinals.

Dryden stood out for more than his goaltending. He was a big man (6’3”, 207 pounds) playing a position dominated by smaller players at that time. He was also a thoughtful, articulate person who didn’t speak in cliches like other players during interviews.

In an era when most NHL players hadn’t completed high school, Dryden finished his law degree during his playing career. He wore glasses away from the rink, which inspired someone like me (who has worn glasses since I was 10 years old) that “nerds” could play sports and do it well.

I didn’t know that Dryden had cancer, which makes his death such a shock for me. I never met him, but he still inspired me with his play, his books, his love of hockey and of Canada, and his compassion. He meant so much to me when I was growing up, and I admired his accomplishments following his playing career.

Hockey never saw anyone like Ken Dryden before, and we haven’t seen anyone like him since. I doubt we ever will again.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW/SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The Canadiens traded the contract of Carey Price and a fifth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for minor-league defenseman Gannon Laroque.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This move clears the final season of Price’s contract (and its $10.5 million average annual value) from the Canadiens’ books, putting them under the $95.5 million salary cap by $4.568 million. That gives them invaluable cap space to put toward addressing their need for a second-line center at some point before the 2026 trade deadline.

It officially marks the end of an era for the Canadiens. Price had been with the organization since they chose him fifth overall in the 2005 NHL Draft, going on to become one of the greatest goaltenders in franchise history, setting the club record for most wins with 361. In 2015, he became the first goalie in NHL history to win the Hart Memorial Trophy, Vezina Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award, and the William M. Jennings Trophy in the same season. Price has been on permanent long-term injury reserve since 2022, effectively ending his playing career.

As for the Sharks, adding Price’s cap hit ensures they remain above the $70.6 million salary-cap minimum if the rebuilding club should move veteran players before the 2026 trade deadline. Price’s actual salary is $7.5 million, of which $5.5 million was paid as a signing bonus by the Canadiens on Sept. 1. Most of the remaining $2 million will be covered by insurance, making this a very affordable one-year addition to the Sharks’ payroll.

Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports the Sharks could have another move up their sleeve. They have 49 of the maximum 50 allowed NHL contracts, meaning they might have to make another trade if they intend to add promising prospects Sam Dickinson and Michael Misa to their roster this season.

CALGARY SUN: The Flames signed forward Connor Zary to a three-year contract on Friday. The average annual value is $3.775 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zary was their only remaining unsigned player. It was expected that he would sign an affordable bridge contract. The 23-year-old forward was a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract and has yet to establish himself as a reliable top-six forward.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: The Devils signed forwards Kevin Rooney and Luke Glendening and goaltenders Adam Scheel and Georgi Romanov to professional tryout offers (PTO).

TSN: The Minnesota Wild signed forward Brett Leason to a PTO.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: W. Graeme Rouston, the owner and publisher of The Hockey News, signed a definitive agreement earlier this week to acquire True Hockey from True Temper Sports Inc.

True Hockey is the manufacturer of high-performance hockey equipment. Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, Vegas Golden Knights winger Mitch Marner, and Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk are among several notable NHL players sporting their gear.