Montreal pursues a left-handed center who can win big faceoffs and shore up the middle, especially on the penalty kill, as the Atlantic tightens into an arms race. Dach appears as a long-term fit, but injuries and fit complicate the fit alongside Suzuki, Newhook, and Evans. With Dvorak gone, Montreal needs a trusted 2C who can relieve Suzuki and lift the lineup toward consistent playoff contention.

The market is thin; Vancouver and Winnipeg are natural buyers, yet the cost will be steep. Kent Hughes will be calculated, timing moves with season-start results, so a trade could come before Montreal truly stalls but only if the price aligns with the return required to be a playoff team.

Toronto’s pursuit of a top-six winger collides with a crowded forward group, as the Maple Leafs weigh adding a high-end addition while juggling 15 forwards on one-way deals. Kampf and Jarnkrok are floated as trade candidates with 10-team no-trade lists, and Brad Treliving stressed that the team will act only if the fit is right. In Pittsburgh, Karlsson remains the focal point of a sale market amid ownership questions, with Rust and Rakell unlikely to move unless a transformative deal materializes. Montreal’s Price contract move adds another layer to the market, with extension talks and salary-retention questions shaping the broader landscape.

Carey Price’s contract exit clears Montreal’s cap runway and sets the Canadiens up to chase a true second-line center this season. With about 4.6M in cap space to start and as much as ~20M accrued by the trade deadline, Kent Hughes can pursue upgrades without early financial constraints.

The move pivots around Kirby Dach’s health and the pairing with Demidov and Laine, while Montreal weighs options on Mike Matheson and Patrik Laine. A quiet summer turns into a calculated cap strategy, with Price’s departure underpinning future roster moves and development paths for Hutson, Dobson, and the emerging wings.

Connor McDavid isn’t rattled by the possibility of a contract extension not being in place when the Oilers' season opens. He stresses professionalism and maturity within the group, signaling focus on winning now rather than leverage concerns. The rumor mill suggests a pre-season extension is uncertain, with McDavid weighing the team’s long-term staying power as much as term length. Ekholm’s view on a future Edmonton stay and Kuznetsov’s looming decision frame a broader cap-health conversation for top clubs. Carey Price remains a focal point for Montreal as contract optics loom.

Ekholm, in a final-year context, indicated he’s open to talks and values security for his family, while Kuznetsov eyes two possible destinations and signings that fit budgets, per the rumor circuit. The Canadiens’ cap situation complicates any Price maneuver, and not moving his contract would constrict Montreal’s options. Flames and Maple Leafs rumors also surface in surrounding chatter, underscoring a league-wide tension between immediate competitiveness and long-term financial health.

Ken Dryden died at 78 after a cancer battle. The Hall of Fame goalie anchored Montreal's dynasty, winning six Stanley Cups in eight seasons, plus Calder Trophy, five Vezinas and the 1971 Conn Smythe. A multidimensional figure, he excelled as author, broadcaster and public servant, shaping Canadiens lore and Canadian hockey for generations.

Tributes from Geoff Molson, Gary Bettman and Carey Price highlighted a life of influence beyond the crease: Dryden's leadership, intellect and service left a lasting imprint on the sport and on the country, with Price and others carrying forward the Canadiens’ tradition of excellence.