Predators acquire PK Subban from Canadiens for Shea Weber

Operatic is one way to describe the reaction in Montreal – and not only among hockey fans – to the news that adopted son P.K. Subban has been traded to the Nashville Predators.

Of course, the Canadiens don’t want Weber to be Subban, otherwise they wouldn’t have made the trade.

Weber has 166 goals and 443 points in 763 career games. Edmonton has been looking for a top-2 defensemen for years and somehow they decided upon Larsson. He has 278 points in 434 games and won the Norris Trophy in 2012-13.

The 14 playoff games he appeared in is the most Weber has played in one season in his career. The offensive-minded defenseman was not always the favorite of coach Michel Therrien and others in the organization despite his playmaking ability. That’s especially true with franchise goalie Carey Price due for a new contract in two years.

The league. This may seem odd to some but if you think about it Stamkos is taking a huge chunk out of that Tampa Bay salary cap, what does that mean the future of Victor Hedman, Ben Bishop, Jonathan Drouin, Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson, and others who are free agents after this coming season, or Nikita Kucherov who is an RFA this off season.

Most hockey experts believe Subban is just heading into the prime of his career. There was a poll on the site and with over 40,000 votes in, over 83 percent said that the Nashville Predators won the trade. Subban is four years younger and under team control for the next six years.

The Nashville Predators lost their Captain and a beloved player but the team got better. Subban makes an already productive blue line even more dynamic with his inclusion.

Weber will be 31 years old this August, and carries with him a contract that will keep him on the Habs’ books for the next 10 years. That said, there has to be concern that he’ll start tailing off sooner than later and still has all that time remaining on his deal.

Because of that, Subban is now a member of the Nashville Predators, a team he believes can contend for years to come. That’s going to challenge him initially and it would not be surprising to see his numbers dip some earlier in his Montreal tenure.

“Listen, while I was a Montreal Canadien, there’s nothing but fantastic times for me”. That’s one of the few explanations that would have this trade make any more sense from the Canadiens’ position.

“I feel good knowing that a team has moved someone because they want me…”

In a news conference, Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin said Subban’s character had nothing to do with the trade. In Shea Weber, we get a top rated National Hockey League defenseman with tremendous leadership, and a player who will improve our defensive group as well as our powerplay for many years to come.

Weber was awarded the Mark Messier Leadership Award, given to the player “who exemplifies great leadership qualities to the team, on and off the ice, during the regular season”, a week ago at the annual NHL Awards. “He is a complete rearguard with impressive size and a powerful shot.”. “P.K. Subban is a special and very talented player”.

The star Montreal Canadiens defenseman was loved by so many not only for his on-ice skills and showboating but for his presence in the city as a bon vivant, sharp dresser, warm and friendly demeanor, and community involvement. “I wish him the best of luck with the Predators”.

The optics of the trade certainly suggest that the Habs were looking to go a different direction with a different type of elite defenseman. Now keep in mind he has played on some absolutely very bad Edmonton teams, and just as it seems they’re about to turn it around GM Peter Chiarelli moves him. Subban’s star is on the rise and his style of play brings excitement to every shift. And the Predators also hope he can help them get over the hump and win the Stanley Cup.