Itās no secret the trade between the Montreal Canadiens and the San Jose Sharks had financial implications, and very little impact on the ice. However, the NHL must test Carey Price before the new season, as the league applies a āsee to believeā type of stance.
Price hasnāt put on the pads since the 2021-22 NHL season. The Canadiensā icon has been placed on long term injured reserve (LTIR) ever since, with not even a glimpse of hope he might return to the crease.
Now, as the Habs traded Priceās contract to the Sharks, he didnāt magically heal. However, the league must conclude that for itself. Therefore, Price is not in his home country, but in San Jose instead.
The Price is right
After Sharks beat reporter Max Miller spotted Price in Silicon Valley, a very plausible reason emerges for his trip to Northern Californiaās Bay Area. As reported, the 38-year-old netminder could be in town to take his physical examāand potentially fail itāin order to be placed on LTIR.
Carey Price at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, Canada.
ā[Carey Price] has to take and fail a physical each season,ā PuckPedia explained on X. āHe canāt go on IR if he doesnāt fail his physical. It would mean heād have to report and be available to play, and if he didnāt, heād be in violation of his contract.ā
see also
Sidney Crosbyās future reportedly out of Penguinsā control as MacKinnonās Avalanche could beat Laineās Canadiens
Expect a standing O
The Sharks and Canadiens wonāt see each otherās faces until the latter stretch of the 2025-26 NHL season. However, when San Jose pays a visit to the Habs in the City of Saints on March 14th, a special celebration for Carey Price is likely to be held.
At the very least, an emotional video will play on the jumbotron. Of course, that could all change if San Jose decides to move the goalieās contract. After all, itās quite common courtesy in the NHL for inactive deals to be shuffled around.
