The Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators took part in
a blockbuster move on Wednesday as P.K. Subban was shipped to the Music City
for Predators captain Shea Weber.
Subban, the Canadiens’ number defenseman scored 51 points in
68 games during the 2015-2016 campaign. He missed the final month of the season
with a neck injury that he suffered on March 10 against the Buffalo Sabres.
Predators general manager, David Poile said, “P.K. Subban is an elite offensive
defenseman with tremendous skill and energy that makes the Nashville Predators
a better team now and into the future. Superstar defensemen of his caliber are
a rare commodity, and we are thrilled to add him to the organization.”
Drafted in the second round by the Canadiens during the 2007
National Hockey League Entry Draft, Subban has scored 278 points in 484 games.
He has won the Norris Trophy for top defenseman in the NHL and was a finalist
for the NHL Foundation Award this past season.
Subban has six years left on the eight-year deal that he
signed prior to the 2014-2015 season. The cap hit that comes with his contract
is nine million dollars through the 2021-2022 season. On July 1st,
Subban’s No Movement Clause kicks into effect.
Trade rumors have surrounded Subban since the end of last
season. In Las Vegas during the 2016 NHL Awards, Subban said, “I am never concerned to be honest with you.
I have a lot of things that I am doing in the offseason and my job is to
prepare for the season. That is all I can control. I never get nervous or
concerned about rumors or what people say. If I did that I would be wasting a
lot of energy.”
He added, “At the end
of the day I love Montreal, I love the city. I mean, there is not much else I
can do except train and enjoy my summer.”
Weber, 30, scored 20 goals and 31 assists in 78 games, while
patrolling the blueline for the Predators this past season. He added three more
goals and four more assists in Nashville’s 14 playoff games.
Canadiens’ general manager, Marc Bergevin said, “We completed today, an important
transaction, which I am convinced will make the Canadiens a better team. It was
also one of the most difficult decisions I had to make as general manager of
the Montreal Canadiens.”
He added, “In Shea
Weber we get a top-rated NHL defenseman with tremendous leadership and a player
who will improve our defensive group as well as our power play for many years
to come. Shea Weber led all NHL defensemen with 14 power play goals. He is a
complete rearguard with impressive size and a powerful shot.”
Bergevin was also complimentary of Subban saying, “P.K. Subban is a special and very talented
player. He provided the Canadiens organization with strong performances on the
ice and generous commitment in the community. I wish him the best of luck with
the Predators.”
Weber a second round pick of the Predators, 49th
overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft is second in team history in goals (166)
and games played (763). He is also third in points in Nashville with 443.
The four-time NHL All-Star, finished second this past season
in the voting for the Mark Messier Leadership Award.
Weber has 10 years left on his 14-year, 110 million-dollar
contract. The Philadelphia Flyers had signed him, as a restricted free agent, to
an offer sheet on July 24, 2012, which the Predators matched in order to keep
him in the Music City at the time.
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