NHL Rumors: Carey Price Trade Creeping Closer to Reality

The Montreal Canadiens appear headed for a rebuild and once the new general manager gets hired, there's going to be several huge decisions to make. This includes the future of veteran goalie Carey Price and the trade chatter has picked up in a major way.

LeBrun on Insider Trading talking Price's future: "Where does a 34-yr old future HOFer fit in a plan of a rebuild if that's what Jeff Gorton plans to do, there are teams around the league, some contenders, I can tell you already that are intrigued to find out where that all goes"
— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) December 1, 2021

Being told 'we would rather you play elsewhere' is one thing, but it's worth noting that Price holds a full no-movement clause. At 34, with some lingering knee issues and a $10.5 million annual salary there's certainly a level of risk involved here. It's very likely the Canadiens end up retaining almost half of Price's salary if they do indeed end up moving him.

Don't expect to see the general manager get hired in the near future and then deal Price before the trade deadline this season. Any deal is expected to take place next summer and likely at the draft. There would be horrible optics involved if they just stepped in a dealt the team's fan favorite.

Price is now starting to skate on his own and appears to be getting himself back on track. He took a leave of absence and entered the NHL's Player Assistance program and it sounds like the experience was very beneficial.

As for suitors, there's already a number of teams who have inquired and that number is only going to increase once it's determined if he is for sure available. From the sounds of it, a Price trade out of Montreal has never been closer.