The Canadiens will pay Carey Price 2.75 million dollars in each of the next two seasons, which represents an increase in salary over the 2.2 million, including bonuses, that he was paid last season. The contract calls for exactly the same money that another restricted free agent goaltender, Antti Niemi of the Blackhawks, was awarded through arbitration earlier in the summer. The question might be asked, ‘at 2.75 million per year, who would you rather have on your team; Price or Niemi?’

It took almost all summer but Carey Price finally settled on a two year contract with the Canadiens today. Price will be paid 2.75 million dollars per season. The signing was announced only 48 hours after rumours were floated that the restricted free agent was prepared to withhold his training camp services if he did not receive a three million dollar contract.

While Carey Price was finishing third in the team roping competition at the Smithers B.C. Rodeo on the weekend, rumours were sufracing that Price is demanding a three million contract with the Canadiens or he was prepared to withhold his services to the team. Price is a restricted free agent without aribtration rights. The rumours are a product of the blogosphere and the sources are questionable, but that has never stopped the web gossip before. (INCLUDED IN THE REPORT-A TELEVISION FEATURE FROM CKPG TELEVISION , PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. ON PRICE APPEARANCE AT THE SMITHERS RODEO)

Carey Price had to get permission from the Canadiens to compete in off-season rodeo events. The agreement was Price would involve himself only in team calf roping events. This weekend past Carey and his partner won a sanctioned B.C. Rodeo Association event at Nemiah Valley near Williams Lake. The victory brought him a $300.30 check. So far this season, Price has earned just over 900 dollars on the B.C. circuit and ranks 6th in the association’s rookie-of-the-year standings.

Today (Tuesday) is Carey Price’s 23rd birthday. While he celebrates near his home in British Columbia, his agent continues what has become a prolonged restricted free agent negotiation with the Canadiens that for a number of reasons has become very complicated. And while the dickering that will inevitably lead to a deal training camp’s opening next month, fans are getting impatient. Some of them have taken to calling Price out for the delay.

The Canadiens traded one of their goaltenders today. The question will go up for the next year – “Did they trade the right one?”

Halak was “the man” during the playoffs. If the Canadiens had made it all the way, he probably would have won the Conn Smythe trophy. Price, who is two years younger than Halak and a world away in experience and maturity, has the greater potential. The gamble Pierre Gauthier takes is believing that potential will be realized.

ESPN.com is promoting a trade between the Canadiens and Edmonton Oilers with Carey Price and forward Dustin Penner as the key components. The Canadiens are desperate for first and second line size. Penner is 6’4” and 245 pounds and was Edmonton’s top scorer last season with 32 goals and 31 assists and was plus-6 with the worst defence in the NHL.

There’ll be a lot of these rumours before we reach the first of July. The Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch, one of the NHL’s most active gossip mongers, writes in Thursday’s paper that Steve Yzerman, in his new role as general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning, is interested in one of the Canadiens goaltenders.