Honestly taking all the off-ice away this trade is fair and should help both teams. I talked to a GM who was not involved in the trade yesterday to access the deal and he put it this way:
PK is a 10 out of 10 when he is at his best and he is there about 70% of the time. 70% of the time he is the best defenseman in the NHL. When he isn't at his best his still a solid 7. Shea Weber is a 8.9 and never less than an 8.5.
There are ridiculous amounts of people in Montreal who are not giving Shea Weber enough credit at all right now. It is insane. There is a reason Shea Weber is a top pairing d-man on Team Canada and can dominate the game. Shea Weber makes every player around him better. You need to watch him night in and night out to know what Weber does. I will go as far as saying to truly appreciate Shea Weber you need to see him live. He directs traffic constantly. Pointing other players on his team to pick up spaces and players they need to.
Shea Weber is NOT in a decline. Stats folks will tell you he is. He has been forced to play a different game under Laviolette and I think that has affected the fancy stats. Barry Trotz's style is closer to Therrien than it is Laviolette.
PK Subban will thrive in Laviolette's system. Shea will thrive and dominate in Montreal and in that division...
Ten Rumors..
* Edmonton is closing in on Lucic from all indications. Because of the capspace they got in the Hall trade, the Oilers will probably say they got Lucic for Hall as well. And in a way that is true, I suppose.
* The Oilers are still talking to teams about RNH as well. Minnesota and the NY Islanders are among the teams interested.
* Loui Eriksson is going to benefit a lot from Stamkos returning to Tampa. Word is the Red Wings, Islanders and Canucks are among the teams most interested.
*The Islanders are courting Andrew Ladd today...
*Bishop to Dallas is gaining a ton of momentum today. The Stars are willing to give up some serious talent and it looks like Tampa may be willing to take back a goalie...which has to happen.
*"The Flyers are up to something big." That is the text I got from an important source. Shattenkirk? I would be surprised. Blues would have to take Mark Streit back.
*The Bruins are still threatening an offer sheet for Trouba.
*The Islanders would likely pick up Scott Hartnell were he bought out and that would be a very good pickup for them in my opinion. Hartnell is a 20 goal guy who kills the Penguins in the playoffs..
*Tyson Barrie could still be in play. The rumors won't go away.
*Montreal is also NOT done. They did buy a little cap space yesterday and they are still targeting a top 6 forward.
More to come after podcast at 1pm ET.
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