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Seattle Kraken are interested in Montreal goaltender Carey Price

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JUNE 28: Carey Price #31 of the Montreal Canadiens prepares to tend net against the Tampa Bay Lightning during Game One of the 2021 NHL Stanley Cup Finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on June 28, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Carey Price could very well be leaving the Montreal Canadiens. According to TSN’s Frank Seravalli, the Seattle Kraken ownership has given the teams’ hockey operations the go-ahead to select Carey Price in the upcoming expansion draft. That is if General Manager Ron Francis sees a fit.

To the confusion of many, Price was left unprotected in the NHL Expansion Draft. The Kraken was expected to select Price’s goalie partner, Jake Allen — until Price was left unprotected himself.

The Montreal Canadiens are reportedly confident Seattle will steer clear of their franchise goalie due to his hefty contract and age. Turning 34 next season, Price still has five seasons left on his eight-year, $84M contract with an annual cap hit of $10.5M.

Price isn’t the only notable goalie available for the Kraken to select, though. Other notable names include Ben Bishop, Braden Holtby, Matt Murray, and Jonathan Quick. All four of those names are established names in the NHL, and they also come at a lower price.

Serious injury or scare tactic?

Shortly after announcing they were leaving their franchise goalie exposed, the Canadiens also announced Price is set to see a doctor, potentially leading to knee surgery.

While Price may have a serious knee problem, fans on Social Media didn’t buy it. Many think that this is the Canadiens attempting to scare the Kraken away from selecting Price. The Canadiens and Price are fresh off a terrific season. Expected to be eliminated in the first round at the hands of the Maple Leafs, Montreal advanced all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Despite losing in the Cup Finals, this season was unquestionably a success for the franchise. A major factor in the Canadiens’ success was the play of their netminder. Price was spectacular in the 2021 Playoffs. He posted a .924 SV% and a 2.43 GAA.

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