Key Takeaways
- The Montreal Canadiens are remaining patient when it comes to adding talent via trade this offseason.
- An NHL source told RG that the Habs do not want to move any long-term assets, such as Michael Hage or David Reinbacher.
- September 1 is the target date for a potential move by Montreal when they can pay off his final signing bonus and get Carey Price's contract off the books.
Christian Dvorak #28 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
For much of the summer, the Montreal Canadiens have been linked to potential trades, but the message from management has been consistent: any deal must improve the roster without weakening another part of it.
“Hughes has let it be known that they are not looking to fill a hole by creating another hole,” said a league source familiar with the Canadiens’ approach. “The Canadiens would much prefer the use of futures to add to their roster, but the problem is, so does half the league.”
That philosophy has effectively ruled out certain high-profile trade chips. “That’s why the Canadiens didn’t even consider including the names of (Michael) Hage or (David) Reinbacher in trade talks this summer,” the NHL source continued. “The Canadiens strongly believe in these two. Reinbacher could complete one of the better top-4s in the NHL one day, and Hage’s stock continues to rise.”
Reinbacher, the fifth-overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, is projected as a future top-pairing defenseman, while Hage’s steady climb up the prospect rankings has given Montreal another potential long-term building block. Keeping both prospects out of trade discussions signals that the Canadiens remain committed to their developmental path, even if it means passing on deals that could provide immediate help.
“And when it comes to offer sheets, I wouldn’t hold my breath, said an NHL executive. “If contending teams are hesitant to give away their 2026 1st-round pick, you can bet that the Canadiens will want to hold onto it until they have a clearer idea of where they’ll land in next season’s standings.”
Price Contract Key to Unlocking Cap Space
While patience is part of Montreal’s strategy, it’s also a necessity given the financial constraints tied to Carey Price’s contract. The veteran goaltender, sidelined since the 2021-22 season due to a career-ending knee injury, still carries a $10.5 million cap hit.
“The Canadiens are taking a pulse on the NHL trade market and seeing where they fit in. All eyes are on that September 1 date when it comes to Carey Price,” said the source.
The reason why September 1 is on everyone's mind is due to Carey Price receiving his $5.5M signing bonus on that date. Once paid, he'll only be owed $2M in actual salary, despite his $10.5M cap hit. And what's more? Of that $2M salary, 60% of it will be covered by insurance.
That is an extremely attractive and cheap endeavor for a team close to the salary cap floor that knows it will unload major salary throughout the season.
On top of being able to surpass the NHL salary cap by 10% in the offseason (which the Canadiens are currently leveraging at the moment of this writing), using off-season LTIR provides temporary flexibility, but it’s not the same as having real cap room. It can complicate in-season maneuvering and limit the Canadiens’ ability to respond to new opportunities. Moving Price’s contract — potentially to a cap-floor team looking to absorb the deal, for financial and asset-based reasons — would give Montreal freedom to make moves without those restrictions.
General manager Kent Hughes and executive vice president Jeff Gorton have a history of making notable trades late in the summer, and there’s precedent for them finding value at that stage of the offseason.
“Hughes and Gorton often get a second wind in the month of August and September to make trades, so it wouldn’t surprise me at all,” said the source. “Right now, nothing is really happening, but it wouldn’t be shocking to see them pull off a trade once Price’s contract is off the books.”
Timing, Market Conditions, And Montreal’s Next Step
The Canadiens’ strategy reflects a balancing act between present competitiveness and long-term planning. Management is determined to avoid quick fixes that could jeopardize the roster they’re building. They’re also conscious that the current league-wide trade environment makes acquiring NHL-ready talent with futures alone more difficult. Several other teams share the same approach, increasing demand and raising the asking price for sellers.
Montreal’s decision-makers are aware of these dynamics but seem content to wait for the right conditions, just as they did with the Noah Dobson trade. Once the Price contract is resolved, their positioning could improve dramatically, allowing them to pounce if another team faces a cap crunch or roster squeeze in training camp.
The September 1 milestone is shaping up to be the unofficial start of Montreal’s next roster phase. Until then, the Canadiens appear committed to their patient approach, trusting that their mix of promising youth and financial flexibility — once fully realized — will give them the leverage to strengthen the roster without compromising the foundation they’ve worked to build.
As one source put it, “Right now, nothing is really happening, but it wouldn’t be shocking to see them pull off a trade once Price’s contract is off the books.”
