When the Montreal Canadiens traded defenseman P.K. Subban to the Nashville Predators for defenseman Shea Weber straight up, the reaction from Canadiens fans was predictably apoplectic.
In addition to being one of the league’s best defensemen, Subban was adored by the Montreal fanbase. The trade was almost universally panned as a terrible move for the Canadiens and an immediate boost for the Predators.
From earlier: My thoughts on P.K. Subban, the Montreal Canadiens, and a very bad trade. https://t.co/xJ3dhv5SyW pic.twitter.com/MY6tX9E1Zq
— Down Goes Brown (@DownGoesBrown) June 30, 2016
Canadiens fans were not shy about sharing their feelings about this trade on social media, either.
For real, my hockey fandom died today. Was a Montreal Canadiens fan my entire life. That ends now with the Subban deal.
— Liam McGuire (@LiamRMcGuire) June 29, 2016
Thanks for trading my favorite hockey player of all time, you stupid fucks. Now have 0 sports teams to root for. Stick it in their eye, PK.
— Jonah Keri (@jonahkeri) June 29, 2016
The backlash is now no longer limited to the digital space thanks to one Julie Martin. Martin left her Canadiens jersey on the statue of Jean Beliveau outside the arena earlier this week with a pointed message for team officials.
If you have trouble making out the writing on the jersey, here is what it says:
“You can have this once-beloved jersey back. I have no more use for it. Once a fan, now so disappointed. — Julie Martin
The worst trade since Patrick Roy. Hoping PK Subban thrives in Nashville! He deserved better, and so do Habs fans. Stop making such huge mistakes.”
It is rare to see fans openly jumping ship like this, and even rarer to see Canadiens this pissed off. Nice work, Montreal!
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