Speculation: What happens with Carey Price?

[blankall]

Buyout doesn't actually save much money. Cap hit is still $10,083,333 next year. That makes no sense.

I think Montreal should keep him. Montreal already has the necessary high end pieces for their rebuild: Caufield, Suzuki, Romanov, and whoever they get this year. At a certain point you have to put guys like Suzuki into a winning position or you end up with a cycle of losing. The 6+ year rebuilds never seem to work out.

The Canadiens are also getting multiple extra picks in the next two years already. IMO, they are now in the position where strong asset management will make or break their rebuild. They should be looking to build, not tear down now.

 

[pth2]

One thing that I think a lot of people overlook is the fact that a Price trade with significant retention skews the value. One team gives more value than the other receives because its very unlikely Price is not LTIRetired in the last two years of his contract but the Habs would still have dead cap at that point.

Very well phrased.... it's also why I expect the Habs would rather get a bad contract in return than retain, and I've tried looking around for bad contracts of similar length.

 

[Habby4Life]

Price is a victim of being asked to carry the load too much (for far to long). You know is true. In the last two playoffs when the Habs were actually playing good in front of him, you see what he can do. He's not 25-30 anymore yes but he's also not far down the cliff like some thing either.

Now think about what Price can do on a contender if healthy.

This is not a question of ability/age, it's a question of health.

I think its more than health but whatever. IMO, he times is just about up with the Habs. They need to find a way to move him.

 

[Moose Head]

Very well phrased.... it's also why I expect the Habs would rather get a bad contract in return than retain, and I've tried looking around for bad contracts of similar length.

A guy that might. make some sense is Vlasic if the Sharks think they can retool enough to be a quality team again a make some runs with Karlsson and Burns.

 

[Mr Positive]

I'm reminded of the Luongo quote, about how his contract sucks. Price is a good player and his team is happy to keep him, but if the goal is trade him for assets and give him a shot at a cup, I don't see that happening. He's a Hab for this deal.

 

[MBH]

why cant Price be back in Montreal and Carey at 50% retention would 100% have teams interested only problem is that he has a NMC

Teams are going to lineup too take a 35-year-old goalie who hasn't played for a year, who only played 25 games the previous year, wh has had one year with a save percentage above .910 wince 2017.

 

[pth2]

I'm reminded of the Luongo quote, about how his contract sucks. Price is a good player and his team is happy to keep him, but if the goal is trade him for assets and give him a shot at a cup, I don't see that happening. He's a Hab for this deal.

Yup, same for a guy like Gallagher. The player might want to win, but the contract they signed makes that largely impossible.

I hoped Price would sign for 6 years, 8-8.5M. With 2 years left at 8.5, he'd be movable this summer if healthy, in return of a 1 or 2 year overpaid contract. But at that number, teams will be scared off, and many will just stay far, far away.

 

[pth2]

A guy that might. make some sense is Vlasic if the Sharks think they can retool enough to be a quality team again a make some runs with Karlsson and Burns.

I've wondered about SJ, too, since Vlasic would be a hometown kid in Montreal, and Price probably wouldn't hate the Pacific coast, closer to his roots. But I'm not sure SJ is at the right point to want him.

 

[Mr Positive]

Yup, same for a guy like Gallagher. The player might want to win, but the contract they signed makes that largely impossible.

I hoped Price would sign for 6 years, 8-8.5M. With 2 years left at 8.5, he'd be movable this summer if healthy, in return of a 1 or 2 year overpaid contract. But at that number, teams will be scared off, and many will just stay far, far away.

It's like Tarasenko. He's a great player who lots of teams would like to try, but try to fit in a contract like that. Seattle didn't even take him for free (although in that case I think they should have, even with the risk, but I get it)

 

[Curufinwe]

why cant Price be back in Montreal and Carey at 50% retention would 100% have teams interested only problem is that he has a NMC

More like 10% of teams.

He's just missed an entire season with injuries and other issues.

 

[HockeyGuy1964]

Last time I saw him play he was carrying a subpar team all the way to the Stanley Cup finals.
Did he suddenly become such a sh**ty goalie since then that there is no possible way for him to remain on the team?

 

[Hextallent63]

at this point i think the habs shoud just keep him. he hasnt been an elite goalie in a while but he is still very good. hold on to him and give him a chance to get some games in and maybe send him off to a playoff team in his last year. once his contract is up either way, consider the cap space a bonus in a few years when the habs have a chance of being closer to the playoffs.

 

[pth2]

It's like Tarasenko. He's a great player who lots of teams would like to try, but try to fit in a contract like that. Seattle didn't even take him for free (although in that case I think they should have, even with the risk, but I get it)

Tarasenko's contract is short enough that it's a chance worth taking, IMO.

I wonder if ever Toronto flames out in the first round, and if Price really shows he's in prime condition, if a Tavares-Price swap could make sense. Even more if the Habs don't get a C at the draft, so 3 years of Tavares as a #1B with Suzuki could massively accelerate the Habs rebuild, while giving Toronto a chance to win now.

 

[Nico Cauzuki]

Teams are going to lineup too take a 35-year-old goalie who hasn't played for a year, who only played 25 games the previous year, wh has had one year with a save percentage above .910 wince 2017.

yes some teams would be interested in Carey Price at 5mill did you not watch last playoffs.... that was not years ago it was a couple months ago

Ne ways all this Price talk is useless nobody is touching Price at full cap and Habs would never retain 50% of hes cap for another 5 years unless the return was huge and that wont happen

 

[pth2]

Last time I saw him play he was carrying a subpar team all the way to the Stanley Cup finals.
Did he suddenly become such a sh**ty goalie since then that there is no possible way for him to remain on the team?

I think it's more a fear of injury that makes it hard to know how to build around him. If your 10.5M goalie needs a 5M backup since he might be out half the season, it kind of freaks people out. And the Habs have counted on him too much so he got played far too much. On a stronger team, playing 40 games a year and being fresh for the playoffs, it might be different.

 

[HuGo Sham]

at this point i think the habs shoud just keep him. he hasnt been an elite goalie in a while but he is still very good. hold on to him and give him a chance to get some games in and maybe send him off to a playoff team in his last year. once his contract is up either way, consider the cap space a bonus in a few years when the habs have a chance of being closer to the playoffs.

what the f*** do you call last summer's run then?

 

[HuGo Sham]

As per OP, the situation is fluid. If he wants out, they'll accommodate him, if he doesn't then he'll stick around and they'll practice load management. I assume he'll want to go to a contender but it's not going to be ASAP; it might end up being next deadline. I think his health is also a consideration and retirement remains an option if he doesn't bounce back from a collection of games played.

 

[pth2]

As per OP, the situation is fluid. If he wants out, they'll accommodate him, if he doesn't then he'll stick around and they'll practice load management. I assume he'll want to go to a contender but it's not going to be ASAP; it might end up being next deadline. I think his health is also a consideration and retirement remains an option if he doesn't bounce back from a collection of games played.

Many posters made the point that his contract isn't easy to move, though - even if he wants to get moved to a contender, the Habs retaining means 4 years of lost cap, 4 years of a retention slot being used, etc., so it's not a simple move to make. If Carey really wants out, it might have to be through a mutual termination of his contract over the summer.

 

[CapsFrontOffice]

Kuznetsov of the Caps sends Price a invite to Caps training camp for try out )

 

[LOFIN]

He's going to play with the Habs. His contract is unmovable. He might still be one of the best goalies in the world when healthy, but his contract is attrocious and no one is having that unless it's for 50% and even then I doubt any contenders are interested. And why would he waive for Arizona or something. And why would Montreal be interested in paying to dump him in this case.

 

[HuGo Sham]

Many posters made the point that his contract isn't easy to move, though - even if he wants to get moved to a contender, the Habs retaining means 4 years of lost cap, 4 years of a retention slot being used, etc., so it's not a simple move to make. If Carey really wants out, it might have to be through a mutual termination of his contract over the summer.

it could be mutual termination, but I have little doubt, habs would be willing to eat some salary

 

[cujo1117]

He will bounce back and win the Masterton

 

[Hextallent63]

what the f*** do you call last summer's run then?

a good run to the finals. i just cant wait for the day some of you habs fans finally stop using it as an excuse on how good the canadians and there players are right now. hold on to it though if it makes you feel better.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Why can't he be back in Montreal next year?

I suppose he could but it makes no sense

 

[teddygmr]

Carey Price was in the NHL/NHLPA Assistance Program for drug addiction! It would be nice to just brush this under the rug but this is the real issue! Is it worthwhile going forward to expose young prospects to a drug addict??? I expect that this summer the contract will be terminated similar to Mike Richards and Evander Kane.