Subban on the Block?
Today there was a rumour that came straight out of NHL 16 fantasy camp: The Montreal Canadiens and the Edmonton Oilers are talking about P. K. Subban.
The P. K. Subban? You mean the same P. K. Subban who is earning 9 million dollars? The P. K. Subban who won the Norris Trophy only a few years ago?
It all started earlier today:
The PK Subban trade talk is real, fwiw. I don't know how far along or if anything will happen but it's not just random smoke.
— Travis Yost (@travisyost) June 23, 2016
Someone around the Oilers organization just confirmed to me that the Canadiens asked for Draisaitl and the 4 pick for Subban!
— Georges Laraque (@GeorgesLaraque) June 23, 2016
Hearing @EdmontonOilers very interested in P.K. and considering a big ask that includes everyone not named McDavid.
— Brian Lawton (@brianlawton9) June 23, 2016
From @TSNRyanRishaug & @DarrenDreger: Could PK Subban be traded to Edmonton? https://t.co/Cu3jRx5FgE #TSNHockey pic.twitter.com/rnXridbhSV
— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) June 23, 2016
Comments
If the actual price is Leon Draisaitl and the 4th overall pick, I’m all over that.
I think the Montreal Canadiens, being the Montreal Canadiens, are infatuated with Pierre-Luc Dubois, the French Canadian who is bound to be taken before the Canadiens’ pick at ninth. Losing Leon Draisaitl would be a tough pill to swallow. (I was talking to a couple of co-workers, and they think it’s too much to trade both Draisaitl and the fourth overall pick.)
However, this is P. K. freaking Subban we are talking about here. This is a player who is in the prime of his career. You will be hard pressed to name ten NHL defencemen who are better than Subban right now. No, the “he’s not on the World Cup! roster” argument isn’t a great one. Even Taylor Hall didn’t make the team.
If the Edmonton Oilers somehow managed to acquire Subban, he would instantly be the best defenceman the Oilers have had since Chris Pronger. It’s downright puzzling why Montreal would want to deal him, although the motivation might be Subban’s NMC kicking in on July 1st. There’s only a week to work out a deal or be commirted to paying (on average) $9 million a year for seven more years.
Water on the Fire
After an hour-long delay, Canadiens’ general manager Marc Bergevin talked to the media and opened with the following quote:
I have never shopped P. K .Subban. Never have. I’m not now. But I can’t stop teams from calling.
However, not once did Bergevin flat out say: I am not trading P. K. Subban. Bergevin also added that he listens to all offers, even the ones not involving Subban.
Then you have something like this:
https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/746116352889487360
Asked Bergevin, point blank, if Subban would be a Hab next year & he referred back to a previous question when he said trade was unrealistic
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) June 23, 2016
Which one is it? I am probably reaching here, but…for a guy of Subban’s stature, would the GM not flat out say that he will be a Montreal Canadien next year? Of course, while negotiating, the General Manager will say “No.” The exact quote was “I would say no.”
The press conference was much ado about nothing. I keep circling back to the Yost tweet along with what McKenzie and Dreger have been saying: there are legitimate talks about moving Subban. If the GM was going to say he would not move his marquee player, he would flat out say no. However, in this case Bergevin did not.
Hell, even earlier, Jim Benning said he was talking to Montreal about Subban. I do not think this rumour is dead by any means.
What about Chiarelli?
Today Chiarelli too had a press conference.
Chiarelli says heavily leaning towards right-shot 'D' and confident w/talks that something will get done regardless of before/after July 1.
— Jack Michaels (@EdmontonJack) June 23, 2016
Chiarelli says some talks haven't included major asset going the other way for 'D' but sees that as stopgap & not inclined to go that route.
— Jack Michaels (@EdmontonJack) June 23, 2016
It was not a flashy proclamation of bold moves. He told us what he was doing and at the same time didn’t let us in on much. Chiarelli is a breath of fresh air. He does not confirm nor deny rumours, but he does not hide what he is going after.
It’s important to note that some talks have not included a major asset, but he sees that as a stop gap and is not leaning in that direction.
That’s fine by me. Chiarelli wants a defenceman that will be here long term. A game changer. Potentially a trade for Subban.
Final Thoughts
This feels like the Dany Heatley rumours so many years ago when everyone was in a frenzy but ultimately let down. Maybe I’m foolishly optimistic, but I firmly believe that Subban will be traded. I believe the talk from the TSN guys. I feel like there is far too much smoke for something not to happen.
I also find it to be very nice that Peter Chiarelli is going for a big target like Subban. If–and it’s still a giant if at this point–Chiarelli is able to trade for Subban, he will be masterful.
Still, I’m also not getting my hopes up. There’s a darn good chance that Subban stays in Montreal. There’s a chance the Oilers come up empty handed and we go on being let down after the hope of a big trade falls through yet again.
Regardless, these next 24 hours are going to be exciting.
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