The Best Trade Partners For Cap-Dump Summer Deals With The Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are in a prime position to take advantage of their cap-strapped rivals thanks to their substantial salary cap space and strategic use of Carey Price’s contract.
With all their free agents signed, the Canadiens have over $5.5 million in cap space, providing them with significant flexibility. This financial room is crucial because several teams are right up against the salary cap and may need to offload some contracts to become cap-compliant.
The Canadiens are in an interesting situation, as NHL betting odds aren’t pegging them to make the playoffs, meaning they can get creative again this summer in an effort to help advance their rebuild.
The Montreal Canadiens’ unique advantage comes from Carey Price’s $10.5 million contract, which, while not set to expire for another three years, can be placed on Long-Term Injury Reserve (LTIR). This move would free up even more cap space, allowing Montreal to absorb large contracts from other teams.
This strategy has been effective in the past, such as in 2022 when they acquired a first-round pick from the Calgary Flames by taking on Sean Monahan’s contract. Similarly, in 2023, they secured a second-round pick and additional assets from the Pittsburgh Penguins by retaining part of Jeff Petry’s salary.
Given this setup, Montreal is well-equipped to target teams in tight cap situations that could benefit from offloading high-salary players on short-term deals. Montreal can use its cap space to take on these contracts in exchange for valuable assets, such as draft picks or prospects, enhancing their long-term rebuilding effort.
But which teams would make the most sense to target in such trades?
