The San Jose Sharks have acquired the contract of long-serving Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price in a recent trade deal. In addition to Price, the Canadiens have included a fifth-round draft pick in 2026 as part of the agreement announced on Friday. In exchange, Montreal has received Gannon Laroque, a minor-league defenseman.
Price is in the final year of an eight-year, $84-million US contract that carries a $10.5 million cap hit. After receiving a $5.5 million signing bonus, only $2 million in actual salary remains. Following the trade, the Canadiens have freed up approximately $4.5 million in cap space, as reported by PuckPedia.
Renowned for his composed presence in goal and spectacular glove saves, Price has effectively retired from professional hockey. The 38-year-old goaltender from Anahim Lake, B.C., last played in the Canadiens’ 2021-22 season finale, where he led the team to a 10-2 victory on April 29, 2022.
During his career, Price earned accolades such as the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for embodying perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. Drafted fifth overall by the Canadiens in 2005, he surpassed Jacques Plante as the franchise’s winningest goaltender with 315 victories on March 12, 2019.
Price’s regular-season record includes 361 wins, 261 losses, and 79 overtime losses, with 49 shutouts, a .917 save percentage, and a 2.51 goals-against average. In playoff games, he maintained a .919 save percentage and a 2.39 goals-against average across 92 appearances.
While Price did not secure a Stanley Cup victory, he guided the Canadiens to a surprising run in the 2021 final, ultimately losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games. Notably, Price claimed the Hart Trophy as the NHL MVP and the Vezina Trophy for the league’s top goalie in the 2014-15 season.
Laroque, a 22-year-old defenseman drafted by the Sharks in the fourth round in 2021, split his time between the American Hockey League and ECHL in the 2023-24 season. However, he did not see any game time during the 2024-25 season.