Canadiens Acquire laroque, Price’s Contract Traded to San Jose
MONTREAL – The Montreal Canadiens have acquired defenseman Gannon Laroque from the San jose sharks in exchange for goaltender Carey Price and a fifth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the team announced September 5, 2025.
The move effectively ends Price’s 15-season tenure with the Canadiens, marked by a Vezina Trophy win in 2015 and a Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2021. While Price’s playing career has been hampered by injury in recent years, his contract, carrying a $3.8 million cap hit through the 2025-26 season, had significantly impacted the Canadiens’ salary cap versatility.
By shedding Price’s contract,Canadiens General Manager Kent Hughes now possesses $4.57 million in cap space, operating under this season’s $95.5 million ceiling. Though seemingly modest initially,projections from Puckpedia suggest Montreal could have over $20 million in cap space available by the March trade deadline.This increased flexibility stems from no longer needing to utilize the long-term injured list to manage the cap,a practice that previously exposed the team to penalties related to performance bonuses earned by players on entry-level contracts.
“It is above all the end of an era, that of an association of 20 years,” the article stated. The Canadiens plan to honor Price’s legacy by enshrining his name, number, and portrait on the Bell Centre’s Ring of Honor, contingent upon his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame, potentially as early as next year.
