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Montreal Canadiens

Price to Sit Out the Season or Showcase Himself for a Trade?

Reports are surfacing that Carey Price might be considering sitting out the rest of the season unless he’s looking for a trade.

Throughout the season, there has been a lot of chatter about what comes next for goaltender Carey Price. He’s been out this season, first to deal with injuries, second to take a mental leave. There’s no timeline on a return, but there are now questions about whether or not he’ll return at all this season.

Related: Maple Leafs Use COVID-19 Break to Run with Jack Campbell in Goal

Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek discussed Price’s situation on the latest edition of 32 Thoughts The Podcast and suggested there’s a chance Price sits out the rest of the year. Friedman notes, “The Olympics are out of the question now so what happens with Price?” He said there are really two possible paths Price might take.

Friedman suggests that one option is that Price decides to hang it up this season since there are no Olympics and the Canadiens are there’s nothing really to fight for in Montreal. The Canadiens are not in a playoff spot, the team is looking at making trades, a possible rebuild, and hiring new management to right the ship. Friedman notes, Price might say, “I’m going to take the rest of the year off to get healthy physically and mentally and I’ll see you all next September.”

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Alternatively, Friedman suggests the team might talk to Price and see if he’s interested in a move. Should he be, there would need to be an understanding that Price needs to up his value. Friedman noted:

“Would the Canadiens and Price say well maybe another team might want you, but the only way that could work is if you get healthy and play some games this year so other teams can see that you’re alright. I think at some point that conversation is going to have to happen.”

Is Price Looking to Play or Wait?

It’s not clear what Price is thinking right now. With no Olympics, nothing to compete for and a very uncertain future in Montreal, one has to wonder what the rush would be to get back? The only really hurrry would be if Price is legitimately looking for a change of scenery and wants to make himself as attractive to as many teams as possible.

He’s still got a massive contract that not many teams can afford, thus if he wants to make himself a commodity that teams are willing to trade for, he needs to play and play well.

Next: Islanders Might Be Considering a Semyon Varlamov Trade

2 Comments

2 Comments

  1. Pingback: McDavid Misses Second-Straight Practice, This Time For COVID Issue

  2. Roy Peters

    January 4, 2022 at 12:39 pm

    The problem not mentioned, do the Habs have to pay him his salary if he decides to sit out. The team that trades for him would require Habs to take back money.

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