PK Subban is, to me, an interesting case... and not the only interesting case on the
Canadiens.
Yesterday, PK Subban signed an 8 year $72 million contract with Montreal. For the math fans out there, that's a cap hit of $9 million a year.
Is this a good or a bad deal? Fans and analysts alike are already batting around this question. Ok, so maybe it is because we are now entering the boring part of the offseason and there's nothing really to talk about now that Sid the kid's surgery is postponed or cancelled.
Back a few years,
Duncan Keith signed a mammoth extension with the Blackhawks worth $5.5 million a year and people questioned it and it turned out ok. Others, not so much. But in my opinion, the worthiness of this contract isn't questionable if you look at Subban's offensive numbers and even defensive capabilities. Based on those facts alone, he's pretty solid. Goon and I agree, he's most certainly the best player on Montreal.
However, he has a reputation most often scorned by those who were subjected to the Vigneault-led
Vancouver Canucks of years past: Embellishment, diving, showboating, etc. Subban is the finest diver in all of the NHL (my opinion anyways) and he excelled at it last year in the playoffs. Sadly, it's not the "haters" that were the only ones noticing it.... EVERYONE was.
There is talk that Subban will be named Captain or wear an 'A' on his sweater this season. I, for one, hope this is just talk. He's not yet matured enough to be an on ice leader. Maybe he's great in the locker room. His interviews seem good enough as well. So, sure, he has the potential, but he needs to clean up his game first.
The problem lies in the necessity to do such a thing... you see, it isn't present. More and more Captains of teams employ shady tactics on the ice. The Kings'
Dustin Brown is a good example. Historically, there have been "cheap" Captains or superstars. Heck,
Gordie Howe was a cheap as they come back in his heyday.
However, I'd like to think that the Captain is a leader by example and exemplifies what his team is all about on and off the ice by such an example. PK Subban doesn't lead in that way. But that being said, the NHL isn't going to change its trends because of my opinion. Oh well.
So, is Subban worth a big payday? Yes. Is it a bit high? I think so. I like Duncan Keith's numbers. Something like an 8 year $44 million contract would have been perfect for Subban. Load it with incentives if you want, that's fine.
So, he's a bit overpaid... but unlike the other "interesting" case, I think he'll back up his pay grade.
The next Habs player headed for a big payday apparently is
Carey Price. And I truly believe that last year he had a career year pre-injury. He'll still be good, but he's not an elite goaltender. The Habs will pay for a guy they almost let walk twice. Soon after, they'll wish they had let him walk.
Just my prediction.
