Overview

• Price’s deal carries a $10.5 million cap hit in its final year despite him not playing since 2021–22, and Montreal has been exploring a move rather than another season of LTIR management.
• Montreal sits roughly $5.9–$6 million over the 2025–26 cap, and moving the contract is viewed as the clearest path to compliance and to regaining cap flexibility that can accrue during the season.
• After the $5.5 million signing bonus was paid on Sept. 1, the remaining real-cash obligation is about $2 million, making the contract more attractive to near-floor teams.
• Reports identify the Sharks as the frontrunner, though San Jose’s 50-contract limit would require sending depth deals back; Chicago and Anaheim are also cited as viable options, with Pittsburgh mentioned as a possibility.
• Most reporting expects Montreal to include a sweetener such as a mid-round pick or prospect, with the resulting space positioning the club to target a top-six center either now or later in the season.