In an offseason of crazy moves all around the NHL, few moves baffled just about anyone associated with the sport more than the trade the Montreal Canadiens made to send P.K. Subban to the Nashville Predators for Shea Weber.
Subban, who had spent his entire career in Montreal and is one of the most popular players in recent history within the organization, was shocked at the trade that sent him south of the border to Nashville.
So was a front office analytics guy by the name of Matt Pfeffer, whose apparently vehement protests over the trade appears to have cost him the job he got just last season.
According to the report from SportsNet, Pfeffer stood up and gave an impassioned presentation to management on why Subban needed to be kept and apparently it didn’t go over too well.
A source told Sportsnet that Matt Pfeffer, who was hired as an analytics consultant at the beginning of the 2015-16 season, made an impassioned and elaborate presentation to management to dissuade them from following through on this trade.
Ignoring Pfeffer’s advice only served to reinforce the notion that [general manager Marc] Bergevin was following different criteria in his evaluation of both players, said the source, who also suggested Pfeffer’s vehemence on the matter might have ultimately cost him the job (he was told on Wednesday that his contract won’t be renewed). The Canadiens would not comment on why they aren’t renewing his contract, but they did say that they are looking into other analytics solutions.
While the Canadiens may not be commenting on the status of Pfeffer’s contract non-renewal, the timing sure is suspect and if the reporting is accurately portraying the situation makes the front office look pretty bad.
As for the trade itself, Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin has repeatedly spoken about character and leadership being keys to making the deal happen. It is that reasoning that baffles Subban, who notes he isn’t perfect but far from a headcase either.
“I’m not perfect,” Subban said before the cameras got rolling for the interview, which took place in Montreal. “But I don’t abuse alcohol or drugs, I don’t party, and no one could say I didn’t try my hardest or that I didn’t show up to play.”
The trade between two teams for two of the biggest superstars at their positions rocked the NHL world, and it certainly rocked Pfeffer’s as well. There’s no word on if he’ll end up consulting somewhere else in the NHL.
Canadiens owner Geoff Molson certainly provided plenty of insight in to who he was backing in all of this:
“I have a lot of respect for P.K.,” Canadiens owner Geoff Molson told Sportsnet Wednesday afternoon. “But I also have a lot of respect for Marc [Bergevin] for having the courage to do something he knows is unpopular. It was directly related to trying to improve the hockey club for this season.
“Obviously we’re going to all live with our decision and hope for the best.”
Molson better be praying his GM was right, or Bergevin may find himself on the chopping block based off this one deal alone.
