There are several complex technicalities, but basically, you have to understand that it would have been more beneficial for the CH, and for Hughes, to place Price on the LTIR during the season, not before the season started.
Clearly, the CH general manager was looking for a way to sign Dach, without having to place Carey on the long-term injured list immediately, but it didn't work out.
If Hughes had succeeded in his plan, the CH would have benefited from more money on its payroll ($4.125 million, according to Marco D'Amico). That's a lot of money!