Montreal Canadiens re-sign Goalie Carey Price to 6-Year, $39 Million Deal -NHL offseason Update
The Montreal Canadiens secured their top-level goalie, Carey Price, by signing the 24-year-old to a mammoth six-year deal, worth a cool sum of US$39 million, which is a huge boost from his previous deal, on Monday, July 2, 2012.
Price was on a two-year contract with Montreal worth $5.5 million, which made him a restricted free agent by the July 1st deadline. His new deal will be giving him an annual salary cap hit of $6.5 million.
It is reported by capgeek.com that Price will be making $5.5 million the next National Hockey League (NHL) regular season and will be collective a $7 million check by the end of it for three straight seasons.
For Price, staying in Montreal was the top most priority and getting a deal he wanted did not take much time as Canadiens knew allowing him to test the free agency market would wreck havoc in terms of their goaltending depth.
“I’ll be 30 when this deal expires and that’s when I should be in my prime,” Price said. “I hope I’ve had a few good seasons and a Stanley Cup or two and I’ll be set for my next contract.”
Backup goalie for Montreal, Pierre Groulx, is also reported to have re-signed with the Canadiens club, which is something Price had wanted due to the chemistry between the two goaltenders.
General Manager of the Canadiens franchise, Marc Bergevin, was also excited to have Price re-sign with the team.
"I think Carey brings what we need moving forward," Bergevin said. "He's a top goalie in the league, a young goalie, and with having him in the net for the next six years I think it gives our team a chance to be competitive, and moving forward I think it was a key for us to have Carey in Montreal."
Price was picked up by Montreal Canadiens with their fifth overall pick back in 2005. Since then, the British Columbia native has grown into a position which the team cannot compromise on.
Last season, Price played in 65 games and had a .916 save percentage along with a 2.43 goals-against average.
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