P.K. Subban is a beloved man in Montreal. Not just because of his exploits on the ice as one of the best players for the Canadiens, but because of his charitable work off of it as well. Just last year Subban had the atrium at the Montreal Children's Hospital named after him thanks to the $10 million he pledged. Through efforts such as this and more, Subban has become a central figure not just for the sporting fanbase of Montreal, but within the actual fabric of the city. That's why it was so shocking then to learn on Friday from Louis Jean of TVA Sports that the Canadiens and GM Marc Bergevin had begun "gauging the market" on a potential Subban trade.
Not suggesting #Canadiens will trade Subban. Just saying one team confirmed #Habs are "gauging the market".
— Louis Jean (@LouisJean_TVA) February 19, 2016
UPDATE, 10:35 a.m.: Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet believes it is "extremely unlikely" the Habs would trade Subban before his no-trade clause kicks in.
Such a deal, incredibly unlikely though it may be, would be monumental for the franchise, both in the long and short-term. Subban has developed into one of the best players on the Habs. The 26-year-old was rightly rewarded for his on and off-ice development as a leader in play and approach with an 8-year, $72 million contract that only just kicked in during the 2014-15 NHL season.
Attempting to move him - Subban's deal, when he signed it, couldn't include a no-move clause until the 2016-17 season - wouldn't just shift the foundation of the team's salary cup structure, it would fundamentally change the group's personality. There is no denying the fact that Subban is, at this point, a foundational piece for Bergevin and head coach Michel Therrien.
But as the Canadiens flounder without All-World netminder Carey Price and Bergevin gets a real look at what his team is sans that safety net, it may be time to consider all options. Because talented though the Canadiens may be, they are also fundamentally flawed. And if life without Price is this difficult, then there's little chance the Canadiens are a Stanley Cup team as currently constructed.
