I disagree that the "correct" model is to not spend too much on a goalie. I think teams need a good goalie at the very least, and a great goalie at a higher cap hit wouldn't hurt that much more. We're talking about an extra $3-4M which is the equivalent to the difference between Emelin and Jordie Benn or a Desharnais vs no Desharnais. The most important aspect is to ensure that your "good" goalie actually plays semi-elite in the POs. The problem is that Price has NEVER been good in the playoffs. It doesn't mean that he can't be, he certainly has the potential, but he hadn't which is why the Habs never made it to the cup finals. Other than perhaps John Tavares, there is no other team that would be willing to trade their #1C for Price at $10M. And you can't let Price walk as a UFA so really there is no other thee option than to pay he man his money!
I agree with everything you said there except your conclusion that we have no choice but to pay him. We can trade him and it doesn't have to be for an elite established #1 center. It could also be for a young upcoming player or a bunch of high picks. If we think that signing a 31 year old goalie to an 8 year deal 10M+ would be detrimental to the team, then we don't have to do it. It takes huge balls to do something like this however, and MB used up the remaining goodwill chips he had on doing the Subban-Weber swap. I don't think he could survive the PR nightmare of trading Price for a non huge return with a delayed impact.
Regardless my biggest worry about Price is that he doesn't bring it in the playoffs. What's the point of paying a guy 10M who doesn't make the difference when it matters ? If I'm going to pay a guy that much, I want him to be dragging the team fighting and screaming far in the playoffs the way that players like Karlsson, Kane, Toews, Crosby, Malkin, Kopitar, Keith, Getzlaf can do. Price ? Ain't never seen none of that with Price. At this point in his career, I don't think you will either. I don't have a problem with guys like that making absurd salaries. They have proven they are worth it when it matters.
The only one set to make even more who hasn't really proven himself in the playoffs is McDavid but he is a special case. He's a generational player in becoming whereas Price was 3rd on Vezina votes on reputation this year. We're just not talking about the same thing at all here. And still I think the whole 13M talks is really stupid from Chiarelli if he gives it to McDavid. I mean.. the whole point of signing your RFA to long term deals is to try and get a discount. Where is the discount in that deal ?