Carey Price pending trade part of a much bigger deal!

All-Star goalie Carey Price has been on the Montreal Canadiens’ long term injury reserve since 2022 as a knee injury ended his career. He is entering the final year 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, just a few days ago. When the Price trade watch began…

Many insiders have speculated that Price’s contract could be traded as early as this week, but one of them believes the move could be part of a larger deal for the Habs. TVA Sports’ Jean-Charles Lajoie suggested it may be the case, claiming Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes could be inclined to part with draft picks, particularly in the first round, to acquire a natural center.

“Kent Hughes would be inclined to part with draft picks, including first-rounders, in order to add a natural center to his roster. A complex but effective deal, the kind the GM loves, seems to be taking shape. The Western Conference is one to watch… And all of this is very exciting! The 2025–26 season is going to be fascinating!! posted Lajoie in French on X earlier this week.

Since the start of the offseason, the Canadiens have been at the center of a variety of rumors and speculation regarding their search for a center who could play on their second line.

Several names, such as Mason McTavish (Anaheim Ducks) or Jared McCann (Seattle Kraken), have been mentioned in the media, but nothing has materialized yet.

For now, the second line, whose wingers are likely to be Ivan Demidov, Patrik Laine, or Zachary Bolduc, still seems destined for Kirby Dach once he returns to health, or alternatively for Alex Newhook. In the meantime, it has been said that the Pittsburgh Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks could be a landing spot for Price's contract.

Unless that pending Price trade is indeed part of a much bigger deal that could lead to the arrival of a true second-line center in Montreal…