Canadiens Working on Carey Price Trade Involving 3 Teams: Why the Maple Leafs Should Care
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
The Montreal Canadiens are trying to work out a deal for Carey Price's deal according to reports, and the Maple Leafs should keep an eye on what happens.
It's been awhile since Carey Price took the crease for the Montreal Canadiens after effectively retiring due to injuries and personal issues that have prevented him from making a full-time return.
Still one of the highest-paid goaltenders in the league, the money isn't necessarily handicapping Montreal, but they need to get rid of it sooner or later. It's going to be tough to move a $10-million+ contract, though according to reports there are a few buyers.
What This Means for Montreal
TVA Sports analyst J.C. Lajoie reported that things could get interesting before September 1st, as that is when his last bonus is paid out, and they would more than likely prefer not to spend where they don't need to.
Per RG.org's Marco D'Amico, the Canadiens are set to potentially have a deal done with a couple of teams including the San Jose Sharks and Pittsburgh Penguins as part of helping both teams in different ways.
For the Sharks:
Sources have heard the most amount of noise around the San Jose Sharks who are just $5M over the salary cap floor, with nine unrestricted free agents five of which are defensemen that could be prime trade candidates.
Acquiring a contract like Price's would give them the necessary insurance to trade some of their higher priced players without dipping under the salary cap floor.
Acquiring a contract like Price's would give them the necessary insurance to trade some of their higher priced players without dipping under the salary cap floor.
Given the Canadiens could use some extra cap space, and Price is never playing again, it would behoove them to get rid of the contract ASAP.
Why Leafs Fans Should Care
If Montreal gains a lot of extra room, that means that the Maple Leafs are going to have an even bigger uphill battle when it comes to bringing in prime targets. Now they have the room to add someone like Jared McCann or Jordan Kyrou, or Montreal can even make a play for Erik Karlsson.
That instantly turns them into serious contenders in the Atlantic and with a healthy roster now, and the addition of Noah Dobson; it's a scary proposition to play against Montreal now.
The one saving grace is that Montreal decides to hold onto that money for next season so they don't rush to make a deal now, especially if they feel they are going to face an early elimination.
But this newfound flexibility might give them the edge come trade deadline and push them over the edge while the Leafs are left on the outside looking in.
Who'd have thought Price would still be haunting the Maple Leafs even long after he was done?
| POLL | ||
AOUT 31 | 1319 ANSWERS Canadiens Working on Carey Price Trade Involving 3 Teams: Why the Maple Leafs Should Care Will Carey Price be traded? | ||
| Yes | 917 | 69.5 % |
| No | 402 | 30.5 % |
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