The rumor mill is churning with one of the most intriguing scenarios of the offseason, and it connects two historic rivals in a way nobody saw coming. Pittsburgh Penguins insider Dan Kingerski has floated a blockbuster idea: the Pens acquiring the contract of Canadiens icon Carey Price.
Now, before you imagine Price strapping on the pads in black and gold, let’s be clear—this is a “paper transaction” only. Price’s career is unfortunately over due to injury, but his contract remains very active, and that’s where the genius of this potential deal lies. The Penguins have cap space, and for the low cost of paying Price’s remaining actual salary, they could essentially buy a high-value draft pick from the Canadiens. It’s a move that screams modern NHL asset management and could be a massive win for both franchises.
Why Would the Penguins Absorb Price’s Massive Cap Hit?
From my perspective, this is exactly the type of savvy move that a team in Pittsburgh’s position should be making. The key here is the difference between cap hit and actual salary. Price carries a monstrous $10.5 million cap hit, but his real-dollar salary is much lower. Once his signing bonus is paid on September 1, he’s only owed $2.5 million in cash for the season. For GM Kyle Dubas, this is a golden opportunity to “weaponize” his cap space.
The Penguins would essentially be paying $2.5 million to acquire what Kingerski suggests could be a second-round pick, if not more. In today’s NHL, a second-rounder is a premium asset that can be used to draft a promising prospect or be flipped in a future trade for immediate help. For a team looking to re-tool around its aging core and inject youth into the system, this is an incredibly efficient way to add a valuable future asset without giving up any players from the current roster.
A Cap-Clearing Masterstroke for Montreal?
For the Canadiens, getting out from under Price’s contract, even for his final year, would be a huge relief. While they can place him on Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR) to get cap relief, it’s not a perfect solution. Using LTIR comes with complex limitations; most importantly, it prevents a team from accruing cap space throughout the season.
By trading Price’s contract, Montreal would operate with a clean slate. They could bank cap space daily, giving them immense flexibility as the season progresses. Come the NHL trade deadline, that accrued space would allow them to take on more salary in a trade, act as a third-party broker for other teams’ deals to gain more assets, or make a significant addition without cap gymnastics. Shedding the LTIR designation gives GM Kent Hughes maximum maneuverability to continue his rebuild, making this trade an absolute no-brainer if Pittsburgh is willing to play ball.
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The post Carey Price to the Penguins? Analyzing the Trade Rumor That Makes Perfect Sense appeared first on NHL Trade Rumors.
