Kevin’s Morning Hash: Price A Kraken?, Trade Freeze Until Thursday, Latest On Landeskog

The Montreal Canadiens are gambling by leaving future Hall of Fame goalie Carey Price unprotected for the July 21 Expansion Draft

Reports of that decision emerged Saturday before the teams’ 5 p.m. deadline to submit their protected list.

The Habs asked Carey to waive his no-movement clause in order to protect backup  goalie Jake Allen. The Montreal logic is the Kraken won’t draft Price because he has five seasons left on a contract with a pricey $10.5 million salary cap hit. Plus, he is due a $11 million signing bonus payment in September.

But the Kraken have to consider taking Price and making him the face of their new franchise, much like the Vegas Golden Knights did with goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. Everyone in Seattle will be wearing a Price Kraken jersey if they take him.

In case you were thinking that the Kraken can draft him and move him, think again. Price’s no-movement waive is just for the expansion draft. It remains in his contract after the draft. Should this move backfire for the Canadiens, the backlash against general manager Marc Bergevin will be severe.

Expansion Draft News

Plenty of name players have been left unprotected, including Vladimir Tarasenko, Jonathan Quick, Max Domi, Jordan Eberle, Yanni Gourde, Alex Killorn just to name a few.

The NHL is now in a trade freeze until Thursday. The Kraken have until Thursday to sign unrestricted free agents, and they are expected to sign Florida goalie Chris Driedger.  Here’s the report.

Around the NHL

Vegas: The Golden Knights acquired Rangers’ fourth-line center Brett Howden, and they traded fading prospect Cody Glass for failing Flyers center Nolan Patrick. 

Philly: The Flyers have been big game hunting for a while. They finally landed a big fish who is a strong defenseman, too. Nashville’s Ryan Ellis is on his way to Philadelphia.  Also, the Flyers were able to protect James van Riemsdyk after Nolan Patrick was traded. 

NYI: The New York Islanders cleared a considerable amount of salary cap space by sending Andrew Ladd, and THREE high draft picks to the Arizona Coyotes for. NOTHING  How is this legal?

Detroit: The Detroit Red Wings did well to get Nick Leddy from the Islanders on Friday and unload Richard Panik on the Islanders. The Red Wings have plenty of options with Leddy, writes Bob Duff. 

San Jose: The San Jose Sharks left goalie Martin Jones unprotected and acquired goalie Adin Hill from the Arizona Coyotes.

Boston: The Bruns will let Jaroslav Halak walk via free agency. 

Colorado:  The Avalanche did not protect captain Gabriel Landeskog.