National Hockey League notebook: PK Subban dealt to Nashville for Shea Weber

The Montreal Canadiens seemed to have an uneasy relationship with defenceman P.K. Subban for quite some time.

On the streets of Montreal on Thursday, fans such as Alex Zarmati were still wondering. Subban is under contract until 2022, while Weber’s deal lasts until 2026.

“You’ve got somebody here who is an icon with youth and a chance to be somebody to move up in Montreal, and in a matter of six months, that’s all going to be forgotten”.

At first blush, apoplectic Canadiens fans were comparing the Subban trade to the December 6, 1995 deal that sent franchise goaltender Patrick Roy and captain Mike Keane to the Colorado Avalanche for Jocelyn Thibault, Andrei Kovalenko and Martin Rucinsky.

Goaltender Carey Price is the club’s uncontested leader and one of the most revered athletes in Montreal’s recent history, but Subban was the people’s champion, an irrepressible, larger-than-life personality who was the closest thing the Habs had to a spiritual heir to bygone heroes such as Guy Lafleur, Jean Béliveau, and Maurice Richard.

“Listen, when I was a Montreal Canadien, it was nothing but fantastic times for me”, he said. “He was a star”.

This is more than a fair way to feel because for many Canadiens fans, Subban is so much more than just a hockey player.

Marie Servais, a visitor from Quebec City, recalled Subban’s pledge to help contribute $10 million to the Montreal Children’s Hospital last fall.

“I’m hoping that shouldn’t be an issue”. Weber is on the tail end of his prime, while Subban is just entering his prime. Subban was loved among the Canadiens fan base and rightfully so.

In the meantime, Subban’s departure casts his previous acrimonious contract negotiations and rumoured friction with teammates in a new light.

Devils center Adam Henrique is familiar with both Larsson and Hall, so while he said goodbye to one friend, he welcomed another to New Jersey. “He’s an excellent leader, but he leads more by example than vocalizing it”.

Regarding the coming Las Vegas expansion draft, Tyutin was one of six Blue Jackets players with a no-movement clause and thus would have had to be protected, leaving Columbus officials forced to expose some of their stars.

Weber, who turns 31 in August, has compiled 443 points in 763 games played, with another 28 points in 55 playoff games. Weber, who is from Sicamous, British Columbia has played for Canadian national teams and dealt with pressure in worldwide tournaments but has been in the small-market Nashville Predators his entire NHL career. Previous year in 78 games, he had 20 goals and 31 assists with the Predators while adding 3 goals and 4 helpers in 14 postseason contests.

Weber is in the middle of a 14 year, 0 million dollar contract that he received after the Philadelphia Flyers gave him an offer sheet in 2012.

The 30-year-old Weber is not the type of player who pays any attention to externals. Laviolette said he hadn’t decided yet whether Subban would play with Josi or Ekholm, noting both as options.

“It was a hectic morning”, Weber said. “P.K. has a lot of talent, but he’s immature”. “I’ll try to bring my hard work and attitude and try to bring the team some wins”.

“And it’s unfortunate that (it costs) a player of Taylor’s calibre, but we’re getting a really good player back”. “For me, the fact that he changed teams changes nothing”.