Montreal Canadiens fans were devastated after the trade of P.K. Subban to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Shea Weber, but one fan’s grief tops them all.
In advance of the Canadiens’ season opener against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, a season-ticket holder going by the name “Dr. CK and Family” bought a full-page advertisement in the Montreal Gazette explaining why he won’t be attending almost all games this season.
Full page open letter to Habs from anonymous fan in today's Gazette. pic.twitter.com/WjSItEyGsO
— Conor McKenna (@mckennaconor) October 13, 2016
Dr. CK wrote the trade of Subban was the last straw for his fandom. He said he was angry, disappointed, and embarrassed over Subban’s treatment by the Canadiens, and compared the deal to the horrendous 1996 Patrick Roy deal.
Dr. CK wrote he would only attend one Canadiens game this season – when Subban’s Predators visit Montreal on March 2nd.
“While my best wishes remain with the 2016-17 Montreal Canadiens players and their families, my season tickets for this year remain unopened. My family and I will only be attending one home game this season, on March 2, 2017 — when Nashville visits Montreal. This season, more than any I can recall, supporting the Montreal Canadiens organization means supporting the decisions that have been made by our general manager and coach. I do not, and will not support, Marc Bergevin and Michel Therrien.”
Subban admitted his personality was the biggest factor in getting dealt, not his hockey skills. It’s a fair assessment. Therrien and Bergevin were hellbent on making the Canadiens tougher and gritter after a lost season. When in reality, goaltender Carey Price coming back from an injury would turn them back back into a playoff caliber team. Subban’s personality is something I wish more hockey players had. He loves playing the game and wears his passion on his sleeve. His attitude should be emulated. Montreal didn’t want that.
Dr. CK, like many Montrealers still, is heartbroken the deal happened. But, as tough as it is to lose a franchise player at pennies on the dollar, hockey is a business. Sometimes, the business is cruel. Being a Canadiens fan, at times, is also tough.
