As the Seattle Kraken evaluate the risks and benefits of choosing Carey Price in the expansion draft, it turns out they may have another legitimate reason to pass on the Montreal Canadiens netminder.

Price will see a doctor in New York this week about a knee issue that may require surgery, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun. The goaltender will also have his hip evaluated.

Seattle is reportedly conducting a "deep dive" to determine whether to select him.

Price's situation may explain the caption his wife, Angela, wrote in her Instagram story Saturday.

(Courtesy: Instagram/@byangelaprice)

The NHL also reportedly told the Kraken and Canadiens it won't allow a transaction that includes Seattle picking Price and then trading him back to Montreal or the Canadiens packaging draft picks and other assets in exchange for the Kraken retaining more of the goalie's salary.

The league reportedly views those actions as ways of circumventing the salary cap.

Price waived his contract's no-movement clause to allow Montreal to expose him in Wednesday's expansion draft. Price's decision lets the Canadiens protect fellow netminder Jake Allen, who would have been available as teams can only shield one goalie and must protect any player with a no-move clause.

Price, who'll be 34 in August, is under contract through 2025-26 at a cap hit of $10.5 million. He struggled in the recently concluded Stanley Cup Final and during the 2021 regular season but played a major factor in Montreal making an improbable run to the championship round.

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