An Interesting Read on P.K. Subbans Departure from Montreal

Last Friday, after the Free Agent Signing Period began, I watched in shock as the P.K. Subban was traded from the Montreal Canadiens to the Nashville Predators for Shea Weber. After reading this article, it appears there's a few moving parts in this trade.

Jack Todd, Montreal Gazette -- Of course no one is saying so for attribution, but Subban is gone because the club had issues with his character, which is subtly different than character issues. Somehow, Subban had made himself unpopular in the room and in the executive offices through what would appear to be an excess of personality.

Subban was too ebullient. He was too happy after losses. He may have stayed out too late at night. He may have joked that Drew Doughty was going to win the Norris because he had a better supporting cast.

That Subban’s behaviour never included the sort of very real character issues you get with the Raising Kane Brothers (Patrick and Evander) didn’t matter. He was cocky and brash and a little too involved in his own world, so he had to go.

Whatever Subban was like in the room or in the clubs after hours, when the puck dropped, no player on this team battled harder. Subban gave this team all he had every night, so if he wanted to bounce around the room and crow after a loss, he has earned the right. If some of his teammates worked half as hard, there would not have been so many losses to mourn in the proper fashion.

Subban has played in 434 NHL games and has scored 63 goals and 278 points. Subban is ranked 10th all-time on the Canadiens for points by a defenseman.

Weber, on the other hand, has played in 763 games and has scored 166 goals and 443 points. Weber is ranked first overall on the Predators for points by a defenseman.

Looking at this deal, it would appear that the trade is basically a wash. Weber is three years older than Subban. Last season, both players scored 51 points. Over the course, they’ve averaged about the same number of points per game, .Subban has averaged 629 PPG, and Weber has averaged .580 PPG. 

P.K. Subban Pre-game Ritual

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Stick tap to Pete Blackburn. I thought this was funny. If you have ever played football or hockey, or have been around the two sports, you will know that equipment for both sports already smells. Imagine someone dropping air biscuits in front of the net. Maybe this is why the Boston Bruins didn't do so well against the Hab's in the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs.  

P.K. Subban just admitted he intentionally farts in front of the net to annoy the opposition. I'm sure Carey Price must love that. — Аrpon Basu (@ArponBasu) October 6, 2014

Subban said his pre-game coffee acts as a catalyst in his stomach, then he holds it in until game time so he can fart on the ice. Great. — Аrpon Basu (@ArponBasu) October 6, 2014

Canadiens' Subban has Arbitration hearing

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To tak a quote from Jerry McGuire, "Show me the money."  I predict that's what P.K. Subban is going to be saying. You would have to think that Subban is going to be getting somewhere between seven and 10 million a year. For comparison sake, L.A. Kings defenseman Drew Doughty signed a new five-year contract that pays him seven million a year.

NHL.COM – The arbitration hearing between defenseman P.K. Subban and the Montreal Canadiens has concluded in Toronto, according to multiple media outlets.

"It's been an education process for me," Subban told Chris Johnston of Sportsnet after the hearing, which went through after Subban and the Canadiens could not agree on a new contract. He is now likely to receive the salary determined by the arbitrator, though the two sides can continue to negotiate until the decision comes down. The arbitrator has 48 hours to decide.

Subban's agent, Don Meehan, told Johnston that there are no plans to continue negotiating a long-term contract before the arbitration award.

The 25-year-old restricted free agent tied for fifth among NHL defensemen last season with 53 points in 82 games and led the Canadiens with 14 points in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, averaging 27:26 of ice time per game. He earned $3.75 million last season, with a $2.875 million salary-cap charge, in the final season of a two-year contract.

Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin declined to speak with reporters.

Subban Remains Unsigned

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P.K. Subban is still a restricted free agent without a contract. The Hab’s defenseman isn’t saying anything about his contract negotiations either.

“I’ll answer one question about the negotiation,” Subban told a media scrum at Royal Montreal Golf Club.“It’s been kept pretty quiet the whole time and it’s going to remain that way until a deal is done.” (Brenda, Branswell, Habs Inside/Out)

“As of right now today I’m sitting here and trying to just enjoy the day. Just not thinking about anything,” he said. Apparently, Subban wants to remain a Hab for life.

"Obviously I remain adamant on remaining in Montreal and being a Montreal Canadien, and not just for a long time but hopefully for the rest of my career, and be a lifer there," Subban told Breakfast Television in Toronto earlier this week. "I really enjoy playing there." (NHL.COM)

It looks like Subban could get one of the most lucrative contracts in the Montreal Canadiens history.

We're talking, of course, about P.K. Subban and what's sure to be the most lucrative deal in franchise history. One that will likely bring the defenseman $10 million a season—or more—at some point during the agreement. (Allan Muir, Sports Illustrated)

Boston Bruins forward Shawn Thornton fined for water bottle incident

I know it's not supposed to be funny, but.... I could just see the video now. Saturday night in Boston, in the waning minutes of game five, Boston Bruins forward Shawn Thornton squirted water from the players bench at Montreal Canadiens Defenseman P.K. Subban, striking him in the visor. This is unsportsmanlike conduct. The NHL Department of Player Safety has decided to fine Thornton $2,820.52.

James Mirtle (@myrtle) tweeted at 10:09 AM on Sun, May 11, 2014: Shawn Thornton fined $2820.52 for "unsportsmanlike conduct" i.e. the water bottle incident with PK Subban. Ho hum.

Tuesday Morning Links

Julie Robenhymer from Hockey Buzz has her Hobey hopefuls in August 26th, blog post and she has UND senior Danny Kristo as a Hobey Favorite.

Danny Kristo - Senior, F, North Dakota, MTL: Kristo has always been a notable player as a product of the USNTDP and gold medalist at the 2010 World Junior Championship, but it took a severe case of frostbite on his toes in his sophomore season that nearly resulted in amputation and the thought of life without hockey to push his game to another level. Decimated by injuries last year, the team formerly known as the Fighting Sioux, struggled throughout the season, but Kristo still managed to be a point per game player with 45 points in 42 games. North Dakota will have a very young, yet very talented team this season and Kristo will be a big part of their success. He brings leadership, versatility and an unquenchable desire to bring a national championship to Grand Forks.

It was announced yesterday, that Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin has an agreement to play for Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the KHL when if there is a lockout in the NHL next month.

In the never ending Phoenix Coyotes saga, Glendale, NHL extend Phoenix Coyotes arena agreement for fourth time [AZcentral.com]

Former Vermont star and current Tampa Bay Lightning forward Marty St. Louis said, that he'll play in Europe in event of NHL lockout. [TampaBay.com]

Check out the offseason diet that Montreal Canadians diver defenseman P.K. Subban enjoys – sounds as if Subban eats a lot of protein and red meat.

Dan Rosen, NHL.com Senior Writer --- Montreal Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban reads off his breakfast menu without a single change in his facial expression. For him, barbecuing a steak at 7 a.m. and pairing it with freshly blended vegetable juice, fish oils, Vitamin C and various other multivitamins is absolutely normal.

No eggs. No toast. No potatoes.

"I eat a lot of protein -- steak in the morning, steak in the afternoon, fish, chicken," Subban told NHL.com during a recent trip to his training facility. "At the start of the summer I order a whole cow from a grain-fed farm. I have it at my parents' house and my mom will season [the butchered meat], and I'll pick them up to have steaks for the week."

Jokes aside, Subban actually does eat the whole cow he orders each summer.

Today, the NHL's collective bargaining talks are set to resume in New York City.

TSN.CA --- The biggest issue holding up talks is finding agreement on how the league's revenues should be split up. Players received 57 per cent under the expiring CBA and the league wants to see that number reduced considerably.

The NHL's initial offer involved cutting the amount to 43 per cent, although it has indicated a willingness to negotiate off that number.

Based on last season's revenues, every percentage point lost would cost the players $33 million. After capitulating in the last round of negotiations and hiring Fehr to lead them in this one, that group appears ready to fight against significant givebacks.

Former Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers and San Jose Sharks goalie Antero Niittymaki has signed a contract to go back and play hockey in his native Finland. [TSN.CA]

In an ugly story - three Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, were arrested and charged with sexual assault this past Saturday. The players involved in the sexual assault Nick Cousins, Andrew Fritsch and Mark Petaccio. [CBC.CA] and [Philly.com]

Greyhounds player Mark Petaccio gets released on bail following a bail hearing for an sexual assault charge. [Toronto Sun]

 The Toronto Sun compares the CBA’s of the Major Sports in North America; Breaking down the deals the four major sports leagues are working under.

The Hockey News has the Boston Bruins finishing second in the Eastern Division and facing off in the first round of the NHL playoffs against the Buffalo Sabres.

In the same article the Hockey News had the Minnesota Wild finishing fifth and facing off against the Chicago Blackhawks. I will take the Wild in six games.

Shattuck Saint Mary’s defenseman and current Fargo Force defenseman Charlie Pelnik is in the latest Hot List in the Hockey News. [Hockey News]

Charlie Pelnik, D – Shattuck St. Mary’s Sabres (Minn. HS) Easily the most talked-about prospect ever from North Carolina, Pelnik will suit up for the USHL’s Fargo Force this season after a great run with Shattucks. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound blueliner from the Jr. Hurricanes system is committed to the University of North Dakota, where he’ll bring a Pronger-esque nasty streak – though Plymouth owns his OHL rights. Draft eligible in 2013.

Subban to the Flyers?

If Boston Bruins fans didn’t have enough reason to hate the Philadelphia Flyers already – I am sure that if the Flyers signed P.K. Subban to an offer sheet and they were able to land the Hab’s mouthy defenseman – this would give ample reasons to Bruins fans to hate them even more.

It seems that this story is taking on a life of its own – Hab’s defenseman P.K. Subban, was offered a contract by the Montreal Canadians last week for two years’ worth 5.5 million or 2.75 million a year, however, Subban has not yet agreed to the terms and or signed a new contract. Could the Flyers next offer sheet be going to P.K. Subban?

Chris Nichols, Sports Net --- According to French sports network RDS, Subban reportedly turned down a two-year $5.5 million offer last week.

Enter the Philadelphia Flyers who appear in need of a top defenseman and who have not shied away from extending offer sheets in the past.

Just last month Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren signed Nashville Predators defenseman Shea Weber to a 14-year $110 million offer sheet, only to have the Predators match less than a week later.

In 1997 the Flyers landed Chris Gratton with an offer sheet, while in 2006 the Flyers agreed on an offer sheet with Ryan Kesler which the Vancouver Canucks eventually matched.

So could the Flyers extend another offer sheet this summer, this time to either Carlson or Subban?

It will be interesting to see what the Flyers do – this week they lost another defenseman Andrej Meszaros for an unknown time after he had surgery to repair his torn Achilles tendon. The Flyers also don’t know if Chris Pronger will ever play hockey again – to top it all off the Flyers lost former Denver Pioneer Matt Carle to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Time for the NHL to throw the book at P.K. Subban for his dirty elbow

First I want to preface this blog post with P.K. Subban is a great defensive talent, but he is a bit of a punk and this video just proves that point quite nicely. Subban is famous for skating around the ice and running his mouth and doing things like this and when he is challenged he turtles in a fashion that would make Claude the Fraud Lemieux blush.

From my vantage point, it appears that Subban leaves his feet to hit David Krecji in the head with a forearm shiver. That is a violation of rule 48 because the head is the principle point of contact.

This is a big test for Brendan Shanahan the NHL Senior Vice President of Player Safety, he needs to suspend P.K. Subban for this bush league hit, these are the types of hits that the NHL is trying to eliminate from the game of hockey

That fact that Subban plays for the Montreal Canadians means more than likely Subban will get off with nothing in the way of a suspension. Subban needs to sit 2-5 games minimum.

Related articles

• You: Canadiens vs. Bruins Fight Video: Will P.K. Subban Be Suspended for Nasty Elbow? (bleacherreport.com)
• Montreal Canadiens Add A Goon To Play With P.K. Subban (bleedblueshirt.wordpress.com)
• VIDEO: P.K. Subban Elbows David Krejci, Turtles When Challenged By Bruins (sbnation.com)
• Julien: Cross The Line With Bruins, Going To Face The Music (boston.cbslocal.com)

Alex Ovechkin's check on P.K. Subban

Check out this awesome hip check hit by Alexander Ovechkin on Hab's punk P.K. Subban... It's well documented that P.K.Subban is a bit of a show boat and players around the NHL are going to be looking for him and they are going to hit him. My advice to the young Subban is learn to take a hit, take a number and get him back later.

PK Subban overtime winner

I am going to preface this with I am a Bruins fans and the Habs are as disgusting to me as the Minnesota Gophers, so excuse me for not being amused with P.K. Subban antics. While I do think P.K. Subban is an exciting young talent, what do you think Gordy Howe would have done to him if has celebrated like that in front of him? This is one thing I hate about hockey; there are players that celebrate like they have won the Stanley Cup on every goal. Act like you have been there before. Was P.K. Subban’s sniper gun celebration over the top?

TSN.com --- "I scored the goal, I did a celebration," said the 21-year-old rookie who has taken some heat for being cocky this season. "I wish I had just put my stick up, but that's something I've always dreamed of -- scoring the winner in overtime.

"It was a great moment, but the important thing is we got the two points."

It didn't bother the Flames, who not only erased a 4-0 Montreal lead but got an important point while playing their third game in four nights on the road. Calgary, trying to battle back into playoff position in the Western Conference, went 2-0-2 on a four-game road trip and have at least one point in five straight games.

Subban hit on Marchand

Habs punk P.K. Subban delivers an monster hit on Bruins forward Brad Marchand, the hit was legal and a good open ice hit, I have no problem with the hit at all. My advice to the Bruins forward Brad Marchand keep your head up son. The Slough foot on Campbell should have gotten Subban a penalty in my opinion.