Habs need to trade Carey Price...

[Habs06]

So I promised Josh I would post something about this so here goes....

I am a huge habs fan, and a huge fan of Carey Price but he needs to go, and here is why I think that should happen.

They biggest thing, is that Montreal needs to address a huge hole at center. Price is best player you have, the only way you will get a number 1 center without giving up too much youth.
The next reason is the Salary. Price will get a contract around 10m a season for 8 years. That is a lot of money rapped up in a goalie. I don't see him taking a hometown discount.
To win the Stanley cup, you need a good goalie, not the best goalie in the world.

Last goalies to win the cup...
Matthew Murray
Corey Crawford
Jonathan Quick
Corey Crawford
Jonathan Quick
Antti Niemi
Tim Thomas
Marc-Andre Fleury

All these goalies are good but are not Carey Price.

I think it is time for a change. Lots of goalies are available this year.

[Josh]

So I promised Josh I would post something about this so here goes....

I am a huge habs fan, and a huge fan of Carey Price but he needs to go, and here is why I think that should happen.

They biggest thing, is that Montreal needs to address a huge hole at center. Price is best player you have, the only way you will get a number 1 center without giving up too much youth.
The next reason is the Salary. Price will get a contract around 10m a season for 8 years. That is a lot of money rapped up in a goalie. I don't see him taking a hometown discount.
To win the Stanley cup, you need a good goalie, not the best goalie in the world.

Last goalies to win the cup...
Matthew Murray
Corey Crawford
Jonathan Quick
Corey Crawford
Jonathan Quick
Antti Niemi
Tim Thomas
Marc-Andre Fleury

All these goalies are good but are not Carey Price.

I think it is time for a change. Lots of goalies are available this year.

I didn't agree right away, but I'm starting to see it. This really would be the time to do it. I think there's potential for a straight swap for Tavares, both are on expiring deals set to be UFA, and both need a change of scenery. You've got Dallas who now have Bishop, Niemi, and Lehtonen - all serviceable goalies. They aren't Carey Price, but if you're getting a top-flight centre they more than make up the difference..

[Kephryn]

Can you explain how they would get this done? Sign him for 8 years, then trade to a team looking for a goalie, who is willing to get rid of a top line centre? Trade him now before signing him?

So they will need to find a number one centre and a goalie?

Don't forget there is an expansion draft everyone has to tip toe around as well. I understand where the idea is coming from, but I'd personally bet on Price and hope for other shake ups in the room (trades etc) rather than drop your best player in hopes of getting another good one back in return.

[Kephryn]

I didn't agree right away, but I'm starting to see it. This really would be the time to do it. I think there's potential for a straight swap for Tavares, both are on expiring deals set to be UFA, and both need a change of scenery. You've got Dallas who now have Bishop, Niemi, and Lehtonen - all serviceable goalies. They aren't Carey Price, but if you're getting a top-flight centre they more than make up the difference..

I really don't see how this is the right time to do it... Unless there is something I don't understand about UFA and expansion.

[Habs06]

You could trade him before signing him. Obviously, you need something in return. I am thinking and dreaming about John Tavares. He is in a similar situation. You could make a deal with NY for a sign and trade for both teams. The problem with not trading him and trying to use other players.... No one else is worth anything. As for prospects, Montreal is not very deep and you don't want to lose those you have.

[Josh]

What's Price's contract status currently in terms of any no movement or no trade clauses? From the sound of it, he seems to want to stay in Montreal. I actually think he would take a bit of a discount to let the Canadiens stay competitive.

[Matt the Aussie]

I really don't see a goalie getting $10M? Yes Price is fantastic but it's not THAT much of a gap where he should make so much more than the rest.

Bishop just got 6 years around $5M each. Price is better, but do you really think he's worth "two Bishop's"?

[Jasmine]

Technically, he is 2 Bishop because they rely on him so much, he plays in net and as a puck moving D.

Seriously, I feel like there is so much pressure and expectation on that guy, I almost want to give'em that money if he stays in Mtl.

Reasonably I think 7-8M is the max I would splurge, also taking into account the terms and clauses and all the blah blah

[Dean Ambrose]

Price will get 8-8.5m per. I'd only be open to trading him if it means the Habs begin a real, full rebuild but that won't happen. Price isn't going anywhere, so the best I can hope for is they fire Bergevin and bring in a GM and staff who know what they're doing and can do what they can to build a winner around Price for another 5-6 years before he starts to decline.