Carey Price Eyed for Laval Rocket Coaching Role

Canadiens Exploring Bringing Back Legendary Goalie as Mentor for Top Prospect

Jan. 30, 2026 at 10:55pm

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The Montreal Canadiens are considering bringing back former star goaltender Carey Price to serve as a development coach for the Laval Rocket, their AHL affiliate. Price, who is currently under contract with the San Jose Sharks, could provide invaluable mentorship to the Canadiens' top goaltending prospect Jacob Fowler and help establish a pipeline of talent through the organization's system.

Why it matters

Leveraging Price's unique expertise and experience as an elite NHL goaltender could accelerate Fowler's development and help the Canadiens build a sustainable goaltending program. Price's ability to navigate the intense pressure of playing in Montreal would be a major asset in preparing young goalies for the challenges of the NHL.

The details

The Canadiens are exploring the possibility of bringing Price on as the head goalie coach for the Laval Rocket, their AHL affiliate. This would allow Price to focus on developing the organization's top goaltending prospects, particularly Jacob Fowler, who is considered the future in net for the Canadiens. Price's contract with the San Jose Sharks presents a logistical hurdle, but the Canadiens are hopeful they can work out an arrangement. The role would likely be a specialized coaching position centered on mentorship and technical development rather than broader coaching responsibilities.

  • Carey Price is currently under contract with the San Jose Sharks.
  • The Canadiens are considering this move following the promotion of Marco Marciano to head goalie coach with the main club.

The players

Carey Price

A former NHL superstar goaltender who played for the Montreal Canadiens for 15 seasons, winning the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goaltender in 2015. Price is considered one of the best goaltenders of his era and could provide invaluable mentorship to young prospects.

Jacob Fowler

The Canadiens' top goaltending prospect, who has shown promise during his time in the AHL with the Laval Rocket. Fowler is seen as the future in net for the Canadiens, and having Price as a mentor could accelerate his development.

Marco Marciano

The newly promoted head goalie coach for the Montreal Canadiens, who previously served in the same role with the Laval Rocket.

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What they’re saying

“Carey Price isn't just a former NHL superstar; he's a modern goaltending icon who understands the immense pressure of playing in Montreal. He's already demonstrated a willingness to mentor younger goalies, and this could be a perfect fit for both him and the organization.”

— Greg Lanctôt, BPM Sports Analyst (BPM Sports)

“Teams are increasingly valuing the 'been there, done that' perspective, and Price's unique insights could be invaluable in accelerating the development of prospects like Jacob Fowler.”

— Benoit Roger, Hockey Analyst (BPM Sports)

What’s next

The Canadiens will need to work out the contractual details with the San Jose Sharks to determine if Price is available to take on the role with the Laval Rocket. They will also need to define the scope of the position and how it would fit into the organization's overall goaltending development strategy.

The takeaway

Bringing Carey Price on as a specialized goaltending coach for the Laval Rocket could be a strategic move by the Canadiens to invest in the future of their goaltending pipeline. Price's unique expertise and experience as an elite NHL goaltender could provide invaluable mentorship to top prospect Jacob Fowler and help the organization build a sustainable model for developing goalies.