Montreal Canadiens Trade Franchise Legend Carey Price to the Western Conference
After a legendary career with the Montreal Canadiens, Carey Price will be finishing his contract as a member of the San Jose Sharks.
Price, who is in the final year of an eight-year $84 million deal he signed back in 2016, will head to the Sharks along with a fifth round pick in the 2026 NHL entry draft. The Canadiens will acquire prospect Gannon Laroque in exchange.
The Canadiens released the following statement after the trade:
BROSSARD - Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes announced on Friday that the team has acquired defenseman Gannon Laroque from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for goaltender Carey Price and a fifth-round pick in 2026.
Laroque, a 22-year-old right-handed blue-liner, played nine games in 2024-25 with the AHL's San Jose Barracuda, registering two points (1G, 1A). The Edmonton, AB native also took part in nine games in the ECHL with the Wichita Thunder. Laroque was selected in the fourth round (103rd overall) by the Sharks at the 2021 NHL Draft.
Price featured in 712 NHL games during his career with the Canadiens, posting a 361-261-79 record, a .917 save percentage, a 2.51 goals against average, and 49 shutouts. The Anahim Lake, BC native owns the franchise records for the most games played by a goaltender and the most wins in Canadiens history. With 361 wins and 721 games played, he ranks 23rd and 29th, respectively, in NHL history.
Price was awarded the Vezina, William M. Jennings, Ted Lindsay and Hart Memorial trophies in 2014-15 after completing the season with a 44-16-6 record, a 1.96 GAA as well as a .933 SV%. In addition, the 38-year-old netminder was awarded the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in 2021-22.
On the international stage, Price earned gold medals with Team Canada at the 2007 World Junior Championship, 2014 Olympic Games and the 2016 World Cup. The goaltender, who was selected in the first round (5th overall) by the Canadiens at the 2005 NHL Draft, also won the Calder Cup with the Hamilton Bulldogs in 2007.
Laroque, a 22-year-old right-handed blue-liner, played nine games in 2024-25 with the AHL's San Jose Barracuda, registering two points (1G, 1A). The Edmonton, AB native also took part in nine games in the ECHL with the Wichita Thunder. Laroque was selected in the fourth round (103rd overall) by the Sharks at the 2021 NHL Draft.
Price featured in 712 NHL games during his career with the Canadiens, posting a 361-261-79 record, a .917 save percentage, a 2.51 goals against average, and 49 shutouts. The Anahim Lake, BC native owns the franchise records for the most games played by a goaltender and the most wins in Canadiens history. With 361 wins and 721 games played, he ranks 23rd and 29th, respectively, in NHL history.
Price was awarded the Vezina, William M. Jennings, Ted Lindsay and Hart Memorial trophies in 2014-15 after completing the season with a 44-16-6 record, a 1.96 GAA as well as a .933 SV%. In addition, the 38-year-old netminder was awarded the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in 2021-22.
On the international stage, Price earned gold medals with Team Canada at the 2007 World Junior Championship, 2014 Olympic Games and the 2016 World Cup. The goaltender, who was selected in the first round (5th overall) by the Canadiens at the 2005 NHL Draft, also won the Calder Cup with the Hamilton Bulldogs in 2007.
This trade is an interesting one; Carey Price hasn't played a game in years, but his contract still carries an $10.5 million cap hit. This will help the San Jose Sharks stay firmly above the cap floor, allowing GM Mike Grier to make further moves.
Price's $5.5 million signing bonus was paid on September 1st, thus he is owed only $2 million this year -- for a team like the Sharks, who may not be getting the highest attendance due to their lackluster play, this is a high-value add money-wise.
While it is bittersweet for many Montreal Canadiens fans, this opens up a lot of flexibility for the team. While placing Price on offseason LTIR would have been an option, GM Kent Hughes can now use his full cap space this offseason for a possible trade.
Previously on HouseOfHockey
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 5 | 585 ANSWERS Montreal Canadiens Trade Franchise Legend Carey Price to the Western Conference Do you think the Canadiens made the right move trading Carey Price? | ||
| Yes | 528 | 90.3 % |
| No | 57 | 9.7 % |
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