Some say he's got very little to no friends in the locker room.
Looks like a pretty uphill battle to overcome.

I just think he'll "change" as he gets more mature. NOt the way he plays, but the way he interacts with others.
- Pecafan Fan

just as Price did. He grew up pretty fast when Halak was running the show!
Maybe, the Habs just need to challenge PK more..

*wonders if the Goat is panicking to try and trade Holik right about now

Martin seemed fine with Subban when he needed him, let's not forget that he was the teams best D-man in the playoff run of 2010.

Obviously, as a fan, it's hard to know what goes on in the room and behind closed doors, but what in his play indicates selfishness? Because i don't see it.

Who's fault is it that PK has been thrust into such a prominent role so soon? Not his.

Looking at the last 20+ years I think it's fair to say it's time to question player development in Mtl.

If the team had enough depth, they could afford to bench him, or at least make him play less than 20 minutes per game. Right now, they simply don't have the assets to "break" him without really hurting the team.

They had Halak to do it with Price.
- _nay_

This.

don't hold you breath.

ps. don't know if PG's son still goes to school in Philly... I think he does...

wouldn't read into him being in Jersey any more than potentially going to see his son
- EricEngels

But Marinaro says he's being shopped...

just as Price did. He grew up pretty fast when Halak was running the show!
Maybe, the Habs just need to challenge PK more..
- Habssuperfan77

Maybe they need to challenge him less?

Great blog EE, I think it may be in PK's best interest to take it down a notch for the next 10 games or so. Teams know at some point in time, maybe 1 of every 6 or 7 times he has the puck, he is going to make a run for it. Make a good pass out of the defensive end, instead of trying to carry it.

It must be difficult as a forward to play with him, because you don't know what he is going to do, and by the time he decides to pass, because he is in trouble, everyone is out of position.

He's has also thown the odd suicide pass, because of duress, those don't go over well on the bench either.

This.
- God_then_kovy

And then, do we REALLY want to break him, to make him fit the mold? His success so far, as well as his failures, are due to his eccentric, extravagant style of play. "PK is PK", they say. There are some, and I'm one of them, who think he'll be a star 5 years from now. Simply, he just needs to grow the (frank) up...and we need to be patient.

just as Price did. He grew up pretty fast when Halak was running the show!
Maybe, the Habs just need to challenge PK more..
- Habssuperfan77

Or maybe he needs some help, so he can play less minutes and fine tune his game.

Someone once said that when you are trying not to lose and when you think that just one mistake could mean win or lose, you tend to play to tight and make that one mistake.

Subban just like the rest of the team is playing too tight not having fun.

at this time of year when we know there is no way for them to make the playoffs, they might aswell just go out there and have fun, no pressure just do what you got to do. It's what the leafs have done for the past decade at this time of year.

But Marinaro says he's being shopped...
- HABSFAN78

sometimes people don't quite understand how or why things like that happen.

1) We know the dynamics at play here between Subban, his teammates and the coaching staff and management.

2) Sometimes, discussions are had to stimulate interest and stimulate discussion about other players.

3) Sometimes, GMs have to dangle pieces to find out if they can get the piece that truly makes their team elite or closer to being so.

4) I love Ryan Getzlaf and Zach Parise, and there's no denying Kovalchuk is a premiere talent.

But if you trade Subban for any one of them straight up, you lose that deal. That may sound crazy to some of you, but it's true.

Kick the tires and see what you can do, but beyond that, there's more bodies moving out of Montreal this season and he's a conversation-starter.

Martin seemed fine with Subban when he needed him, let's not forget that he was the teams best D-man in the playoff run of 2010.

Obviously, as a fan, it's hard to know what goes on in the room and behind closed doors, but what in his play indicates selfishness? Because i don't see it.

Who's fault is it that PK has been thrust into such a prominent role so soon? Not his.

Looking at the last 20+ years I think it's fair to say it's time to question player development in Mtl.
- habby

Yes.

Or maybe he needs some help, so he can play less minutes and fine tune his game.
Someone once said that when you are trying not to lose and when you think that just one mistake could mean win or lose, you tend to play to tight and make that one mistake.

Subban just like the rest of the team is playing too tight not having fun.

at this time of year when we know there is no way for them to make the playoffs, they might aswell just go out there and have fun, no pressure just do what you got to do. It's what the leafs have done for the past decade at this time of year.
- HuileHab

I will not use that 6 letter M word which ends in V..

Great blog EE, I think it may be in PK's best interest to take it down a notch for the next 10 games or so. Teams know at some point in time, maybe 1 of every 6 or 7 times he has the puck, he is going to make a run for it. Make a good pass out of the defensive end, instead of trying to carry it.

It must be difficult as a forward to play with him, because you don't know what he is going to do, and by the time he decides to pass, because he is in trouble, everyone is out of position.

He's has also thown the odd suicide pass, because of duress, those don't go over well on the bench either.
- pete26

I think he just needs to be there helping guys out, not creating problems for them to battle for him, and for him to go out of his way to step up for a teammate.

He needs to do more of that, and continue to stay true to his game and his persona.

He will do that, and he will gain more respect from his teammates.

And he was also always have some that don't like him.

there's no in between. They either love him or hate him. that's what you get with a character and flamboyant playing style like Pk has

sometimes people don't quite understand how or why things like that happen.

1) We know the dynamics at play here between Subban, his teammates and the coaching staff and management.

2) Sometimes, discussions are had to stimulate interest and stimulate discussion about other players.

3) Sometimes, GMs have to dangle pieces to find out if they can get the piece that truly makes their team elite or closer to being so.

4) I love Ryan Getzlaf and Zach Parise, and there's no denying Kovalchuk is a premiere talent.

But if you trade Subban for any one of them straight up, you lose that deal. That may sound crazy to some of you, but it's true.

Kick the tires and see what you can do, but beyond that, there's more bodies moving out of Montreal this season and he's a conversation-starter.
- EricEngels

I believe this as well.

sometimes people don't quite understand how or why things like that happen.

1) We know the dynamics at play here between Subban, his teammates and the coaching staff and management.

2) Sometimes, discussions are had to stimulate interest and stimulate discussion about other players.

3) Sometimes, GMs have to dangle pieces to find out if they can get the piece that truly makes their team elite or closer to being so.

4) I love Ryan Getzlaf and Zach Parise, and there's no denying Kovalchuk is a premiere talent.

But if you trade Subban for any one of them straight up, you lose that deal. That may sound crazy to some of you, but it's true.

Kick the tires and see what you can do, but beyond that, there's more bodies moving out of Montreal this season and he's a conversation-starter.
- EricEngels

That's very PC of you.

I think he just needs to be there helping guys out, not creating problems for them to battle for him, and for him to go out of his way to step up for a teammate.

He needs to do more of that, and continue to stay true to his game and his persona.

He will do that, and he will gain more respect from his teammates.

And he was also always have some that don't like him.

there's no in between. They either love him or hate him. that's what you get with a character and flamboyant playing style like Pk has
- EricEngels

What give me the most confidence about his development is that unlike a lot of guys in the league, especially his age is that he seems genuinely smart. He seems to come from a really good background.

I really believe skin colour plays a factor in the perception of him.

sometimes people don't quite understand how or why things like that happen.

1) We know the dynamics at play here between Subban, his teammates and the coaching staff and management.

2) Sometimes, discussions are had to stimulate interest and stimulate discussion about other players.

3) Sometimes, GMs have to dangle pieces to find out if they can get the piece that truly makes their team elite or closer to being so.

4) I love Ryan Getzlaf and Zach Parise, and there's no denying Kovalchuk is a premiere talent.

But if you trade Subban for any one of them straight up, you lose that deal. That may sound crazy to some of you, but it's true.

Kick the tires and see what you can do, but beyond that, there's more bodies moving out of Montreal this season and he's a conversation-starter.
- EricEngels

I would trade Subban for Getzlaf in a heartbeat, but the Ducks would be asking for more...

But Marinaro says he's being shopped...
- HABSFAN78

At this point, I would say any and all players can be shopped for the right return.

I will not use that 6 letter M word which ends in V..
- God_then_kovy

Good, becuase that word is dead, anything he brings moving forward should be a bonus.

Wating for M____V should not be the strategy for the team 3 years after he last played a season.

At this point, I would say any and all players can be shopped for the right return.
- Pecafan Fan

Absolutely, but judging what that would be with PK right now would be really tough.

Or maybe he needs some help, so he can play less minutes and fine tune his game.

Someone once said that when you are trying not to lose and when you think that just one mistake could mean win or lose, you tend to play to tight and make that one mistake.

Subban just like the rest of the team is playing too tight not having fun.

at this time of year when we know there is no way for them to make the playoffs, they might aswell just go out there and have fun, no pressure just do what you got to do. It's what the leafs have done for the past decade at this time of year.
- HuileHab

Subban needs a guy like Markov. A guy whose skill is almost on par with his but as learned to play the game in a efficient way. Otherwise if vets like Gill try to coach him it won't stick because in his mind he knows he's already better than them.

What give me the most confidence about his development is that unlike a lot of guys in the league, especially his age is that he seems genuinely smart. He seems to come from a really good background.

I really believe skin colour plays a factor in the perception of him.
- habby

agreed, no matter how much the haters will lie to themselves, some small part in the back of their mind will always see color first.

Subban needs a guy like Markov. A guy whose skill is almost on par with his but as learned to play the game in a efficient way. Otherwise if vets like Gill try to coach him it won't stick because in his mind he knows he's already better than them.
- Fredobface

Ek once said that M____V's grow on trees, I wonder if he would tell us where that tree is.

sometimes people don't quite understand how or why things like that happen.

1) We know the dynamics at play here between Subban, his teammates and the coaching staff and management.

2) Sometimes, discussions are had to stimulate interest and stimulate discussion about other players.

3) Sometimes, GMs have to dangle pieces to find out if they can get the piece that truly makes their team elite or closer to being so.

4) I love Ryan Getzlaf and Zach Parise, and there's no denying Kovalchuk is a premiere talent.

But if you trade Subban for any one of them straight up, you lose that deal. That may sound crazy to some of you, but it's true.

Kick the tires and see what you can do, but beyond that, there's more bodies moving out of Montreal this season and he's a conversation-starter.
- EricEngels

Just say Tony is an idiot, we all know it already.

sometimes people don't quite understand how or why things like that happen.

1) We know the dynamics at play here between Subban, his teammates and the coaching staff and management.

2) Sometimes, discussions are had to stimulate interest and stimulate discussion about other players.

3) Sometimes, GMs have to dangle pieces to find out if they can get the piece that truly makes their team elite or closer to being so.

4) I love Ryan Getzlaf and Zach Parise, and there's no denying Kovalchuk is a premiere talent.

But if you trade Subban for any one of them straight up, you lose that deal. That may sound crazy to some of you, but it's true.

Kick the tires and see what you can do, but beyond that, there's more bodies moving out of Montreal this season and he's a conversation-starter.
- EricEngels

I agree, it's not that PK is better than any of those guys, but the guy has so much upside it's incredible. He skates, he handles the puck, he has great vision and first pass, he's physical, he can handle big minutes and can be given the hard defensive missions. He just need to figure out how to make his tools complementary of one another game in and game out.