The Montreal Canadiens have swapped star defenseman with the Nashville Predators, dealing P.K. Subban in a one-for-one deal for Shea Weber.
Confirming the PK Subban blockbuster: traded to Nashville for Shea Weber.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 29, 2016
That’s a blockbuster, folks. Trading Subban has been rumored all offseason, but general manager Marc Bergevin decided to pull the trigger in a day that’s had a flurry of huge moves.
Canadiens acquire defenseman Shea Weber from the Nashville Predators in return for defenseman P.K. Subban. pic.twitter.com/jlFvVNyjHG
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 29, 2016
The move is a great one for the Predators. Subban is a 27-year-old rearguard who possesses immense offensive talent. He’s scored 50+ points in three straight seasons including 51 points last season. He’s a mobile, puck-carrier who is excellent at generating shot attempts. He’s exactly the type of defenseman you want in today’s NHL. He was also a superstar off the ice.
While Subban takes knocks for his risky play, he’s more than capable defensively, winning the Norris Trophy in 2013 He joins an extremely talented group of defensemen in Nashville, including Roman Josi. Subban signed an eight-year extension with the Canadiens in 2014 and won’t hit free agency until 2011-22.
Weber, meanwhile, might be the most overrated defenseman in the game today. Known for being a physical defenseman with a booming shot, his defensive game isn’t great. He’s not nearly as mobile as Subban.
Offensively, it’s a wash. Weber doesn’t generate nearly the shot attempts as Subban, but he does find the net more and his good power play presence. He scored 20 goals and 51 points with the Predators last season. The big no-no is Weber’s contract. He’s 30 and has ten years left on his 14-year, $110 million extension. Woof.
FYI that there was NO salary retained in Subban-Weber blockbuster. Straight up contract for contract.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 29, 2016
The Canadiens really shit the bed with the move. They traded one of the best defensemen in the entire league for perhaps the most overrated.
Somebody needs to put a Crying Jordan face on the Montreal organization because this will be the most haunting deal since the Patrick Roy one. I still can’t believe it.
