P.K. Subban is about to get PAID and there is nothing that Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin and the Habs can do about it.
Les Habitantes should just check their huge egos at the door and pay the man now and spare themselves the public embarrassment that will result when the arbitrator rules in favor of paying Subban north of $7 million for a one year contract. Subban's arb hearing is scheduled for Friday morning.
With his arbitration hearing scheduled to take place in his hometown of Toronto on Friday morning, the Habs should just drive over to Subban’s agent’s office and hand the kid a blank cashier’s check Seriously. All of this posturing and verbal flatulence about the kid having to prove himself to Habs’ brass is just that. Rubbish.
On Thursday morning, Subban and the Canadiens were thrust into the center of the octagon when it was reported that the Canadiens are only offering Subban $5.25 million on a one-year contract. Subban’s agent appropriately is asking for $8.5 million. Have the Habs’ brain trust lost their collective minds? They are $3.25 million in annual salary off the mark regarding Subban’s next contract. Mistakes like that get GMs fired, for crying out loud. If Bergevin et al honestly think in their heart of hearts that the arbitrator will award Subban a one year deal in the $5.25-$5.5 million range, they are sadly mistaken. Bergevin should take note that if the arbitrator awards Subban a $7.5 million one-year contract that means that the Habs GM will have to qualify Subban at the same contract amount next summer. By my math, that’s $15 million guaranteed that Subban will shove into his designer jeans in the next two seasons. What’s more, he’ll be eligible for UFA status at the tender age of 27. Think about that. Subban the UFA would command upwards of $9-$9.5 million per season on a long term deal were he exposed to the unrestricted free agency market. Scoff if you want to, Bergevin. However, there will be a half dozen teams lined up to join a July 1 bidding war to secure the player, who in my estimation, is the most entertaining to watch on a night in, night out basis in the NHL today.
Bergevin is acting like it’s the 2013 lockout shortened season all over again when dealing with this precarious contract issue with Subban. Last time, Bergevin held the upper hand during the negotiations. He had the young, immature Subban boxed into a corner. Subban wanted more money and term than he ended up settling for. Bergevin won that battle by getting Subban to agree to a two-year bridge deal worth $5.75 million ($2.875 AAV). Bergevin told the kid to go out and earn his big shot contract. He did just that by winning himself a Norris Trophy in 2013 and by leading his team to the Eastern Conference Finals against the Rangers this past spring. Subban was the best player on the Montreal bench for all three rounds of the playoffs. He scored 14 points in 17 games played. Without Subban, the Habs would not have eliminated the big, bad, Bruins in seven thrilling games. For that feat alone, Subban deserves a ginormous eight year deal worth $9 million per season. You'd think that Bergevin would reward Subban's dedication to the organization by signing him to the long term deal that he has earned. Instead, Bergevin throws out a cheesy one year offer for less money than he just signed 35 year old, injury-plagued D Andrei Markov, who just signed a three year contract that will pay him $5.75 million per season. That happened. Look it up.
Talk about insulting.
This time around, the 25 year old Subban has the hammer and he’s about to use it on Bergevin and the Habs. He has been compliant and has done everything (and then some) that the Habs have asked of him. Now, its time for reciprocity. They need to show Subban the money. With the rising salary cap and a sparsely populated free agent class on the horizon, Subban is going to get paid.
Its time for Bergevin to lose his false pride and to fly his white flag high above his bunker. The Habs will lose this contract battle with Subban, if it gets to the arbitration hearing. The operative word being “if”.
The Habs opted to let his captain Brian Gionta skate to Buffalo on UFA day. Bergevin then traded away blood and guts D-man Josh Gorges. He can ill afford another PR blunder by mishandling Subban next contract. Yes, I do believe that Subban has earned the right to wear the "C".
Puck's on your stick, Bergy. Don't whiff.
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