Glad we moved PK. Would have liked to see a better immediate return, but we won't really know the full return until we see the roster in October. My guess is that we're all in on getting scorers, so we need cap space.

The defense suffered the past few years because we still can't seem to score. I've never been a big fan of a system where we depend on our D to score more than the wingers, and that seems to be where we end up settling more often than not. So I'll give Poile a year to get some scorers, but I'm keeping Lavy on a short leash. If Duchene or whoever comes here and pulls a Turris, I'd run Lavy out of town on a rail. And quickly.

Your description of the haters mirrors the situation in Montreal back when he was with the Habs. His “personality” (incidentally, I agree, the NHL needs more, not less, personality) rubbed some the wrong way (exacerbated by some in the media). In my view, there was a tinge of racism that added to the mix (certainly among some of the haters I know personally—sadly including some of my relatives).

I hated the trade from Montreal to Nashville, not because I have anything against Weber, but because Subban was a dynamic, larger than life presence who could more than back it up on the ice (a combination we haven’t had in decades). A breath of fresh air in a stodgy league and team.

Since the trade, I’ve not spent a penny on Habs stuff (tickets, gear, etc.) and I used to spend about 500-800$/yr. It’s not the trade itself (a pure money trade, to rebalance team strength between defence and forwards, like Nashville, would have been disappointing but justifiable) as much as the fact the Habs chose a crappy coach who is the epitome of the stodgy point of view (and I’m being VERY generous in my description of Therrien) over the chance to adopt a more dynamic vision of the game by keeping Subban and building around him. In fact, I haven’t seen a complete Habs game since the trade—and I used to PVR games I couldn’t watch live.

Time passes, Therrien is gone, and the team I’ve cheered for since Ken Dryden’s 1971 Cup run has some promising players with signs of dynamism, so perhaps my interest will increase again. After all, I didn’t abandon them entirely after the Roy debacle. But the Subban trade, with the attitudes expressed around it, will remain a dark moment of Habs history as far as I’m concerned.
- Ovation

I don't like his personality and his antics, am I racist now?

I don't like his personality and his antics, am I racist now?
- kaptaan

No, not a racist, just an idiot

I don't like his personality and his antics, am I racist now?
- kaptaan

Not liking P.K. or his act doesn't make you racist. Pretending their aren't people who don't like him because of race, or overact to his antics because of it is ignorant.

Glad we moved PK. Would have liked to see a better immediate return, but we won't really know the full return until we see the roster in October. My guess is that we're all in on getting scorers, so we need cap space.

The defense suffered the past few years because we still can't seem to score. I've never been a big fan of a system where we depend on our D to score more than the wingers, and that seems to be where we end up settling more often than not. So I'll give Poile a year to get some scorers, but I'm keeping Lavy on a short leash. If Duchene or whoever comes here and pulls a Turris, I'd run Lavy out of town on a rail. And quickly.
- FoxMulder

If that happens we have to start questioning Poile's position with the team as well. There's only so many poor trades and bad contracts you can give out before the goodwill from years past starts to ware off.

Well said. I’m tired of the white washed nhl. Just watched the Raptors NBA run and was so intrigued and excited for every game, each day off the pregame report. It was all just so very exciting. NHL is just so very bland.
- leafluver27

So your telling a round one exit wasn't more exciting than winning an NBA championship?

If that happens we have to start questioning Poile's position with the team as well. There's only so many poor trades and bad contracts you can give out before the goodwill from years past starts to ware off.
- Squatchy

I agree, but can you see them making that move? I get the impression that Poile's been told the job is his until he retires.

I agree, but can you see them making that move? I get the impression that Poile's been told the job is his until he retires.
- FoxMulder

Honestly, no I can't unless the team completely implodes. I don't think David is a bad GM by any means, but his reputation as a wizard who fleeces everyone he deals with is greatly exaggerated. It feels like the game is slowly passing him by a little bit each year.

If that happens we have to start questioning Poile's position with the team as well. There's only so many poor trades and bad contracts you can give out before the goodwill from years past starts to ware off.
- Squatchy

Agreed;
Remember a few years ago when everyone wanted Trotz’s head but not Poile?
How did that turn out ?
Nashville will get a name scorer but at what price?

I like the personality PK has but I think he is highly over rated. His dive and "cry to the ref" face always makes me laugh.

Really good dude but not that great of a Dman. Hos charity work is incredible. I love that about him

Glad we moved PK. Would have liked to see a better immediate return, but we won't really know the full return until we see the roster in October. My guess is that we're all in on getting scorers, so we need cap space.

The defense suffered the past few years because we still can't seem to score. I've never been a big fan of a system where we depend on our D to score more than the wingers, and that seems to be where we end up settling more often than not. So I'll give Poile a year to get some scorers, but I'm keeping Lavy on a short leash. If Duchene or whoever comes here and pulls a Turris, I'd run Lavy out of town on a rail. And quickly.
- FoxMulder

That is lacy and his system. Unfortunately Lavy has a shelf life and seems to be unable to modify his approach. He loses a lot of match ups to other coaches who are good at the strategic side of the game.
Lavy's system requires his D to shoot and score more often. He has always been like that, imo

I don't like his personality and his antics, am I racist now?
- kaptaan

I dunno. Are you? Can’t say as I don’t have enough evidence to form a hypothesis.

However, there is abundant evidence of your limited reading comprehension skills.

So there’s that.

I like the personality PK has but I think he is highly over rated. His dive and "cry to the ref" face always makes me laugh.

Really good dude but not that great of a Dman. Hos charity work is incredible. I love that about him
- sILKAsSINASALO

Agree with what you wrote, except I don't like his personality. Always hamming, and looking for attention. He starts to get annoying.

No, not a racist, just an idiot
- Polecat

That's mean.

Not liking P.K. or his act doesn't make you racist. Pretending their aren't people who don't like him because of race, or overact to his antics because of it is ignorant.
- Squatchy

There are people like that guy who posted about the NBA being so great and NHL being boring & white washed as well, pretending people like that don't exist is ignorant. Maybe there are racists who don't like hockey because of the race of most players.

worst trade ever DP......................

worst trade ever DP......................
- PREDX1

Time will tell won't it? I highly doubt Poile is done dealing. Wait till the end of the offseason to make your judgment.

worst trade ever DP......................
- PREDX1

Like I said, we won't even know the return until after FA. That's an emotional response, not a rational one.

Like I said, we won't even know the return until after FA. That's an emotional response, not a rational one.
- FoxMulder

Got it! I can respect that.

I believe that those who complain a lot about "haters" are really just haters, themselves, who hate that others don't like what they like. The hater loves to criticize, but won't stand for others criticizing what he likes, characterizing them as "haters."

When your peers vote you the most overrated it basically says everything about you as a player.

When your peers vote you the most overrated it basically says everything about you as a player.
- Gerk

They're all a bunch of haters.

Subban as a player is overrated. Not even a top defender on most teams. More of a pp specialist and mid defender. His on ice antics of holding people, diving/embellishing are what lead people to despise him. Him dancing on the ice in pregame warmups??? Who cares. Let him do his routine to psych himself up. Be a cleaner player and play hard nosed whistle to whistle. Defend better. Then you will find more fans liking him. Him forearm checks then falling onto a player and holding him there is what most fans should hate. It's bush league.


He should have never won the Norris trophy neither Karlsson. I know that was before he was on the Preds but when your not even the top defender on your team how can you be the best?


It'll be nice not to face him 5-6 times a year.

In afraid that is time in Junior led to his reputation to be difficult player to coach. That's why he dropped to a mid second round pick. The Hab's said at the time that they would groom him.

The issues started for Montreal management with the apparent issues with Mike Cammalleri. "Prime Time" was Cammalleri's nickname for PK because he took alot of space in the locker room. Thank God Hal Gill was there to guide PK but in the end Cammalleri (at his request) was dealt. Then came PK's bridge contract.... he was an RFA with no arbitration. Habs gave him 2.875 m for 2 years. PK was bitter... he wanted a long term deal! He wouldn't forget the next time around.

Then Hab's coach Therrien system was a high tempo structured breakout that required the D to make a crisp first pass to get out of the habs d zone and the forwards would dump the puck in the oppositions zone and then swarm the D to create outnumbered scoring chances. PK played this system very well in the 2012/13 season and won the Norris. In retrospect, He was never the same after that award. The following seasons he did way too much to make plays and didn't play the system.

But that didn't stop him from playing hard ball with Bergevin in the summer of 2013/14 with his contract negotiations. An 8 year/72 M$ contract. Bergevin had played hard on his bridge deal and now it was PK's turn. He was going to make more than Crosby and almost has much as Ovi. It didn't even reach arbitration, the habs brass reluctantly gave him what he wanted. What Bergevin did manage to get was not to have a no trade clause for the first 2 years of his contract.

The Habs now had 2 years to make it work with him. He needed to come back to the system (remember the Norris) and get along with his teammates (remember Cammalleri ... now it was with Pacioretty). But none of that happened... just the PK Subban show... the charities and everything! I would have hoped he kept all the money and just played the system.

I loved PK in an Habs jersey but he underachieved for the money he was getting. On top of that he had a history of dividing the room but does things can be worked out. And now he was underachieving in Nashville for the money he was getting. Poile could have traded Jossi but decided to stick with him instead of PK. Imagine the return on that trade!

Why have 2 established teams decided to part ways with PK? It's not because of race, politics, the old NHL or because he's vocal on or off the ice. It's because he makes to much money for what he brings to the table.

He has the potential to be a dominant player but he chooses to be a dominant person instead. I wish him all the best. I really do hope that he proves me wrong!

In afraid that is time in Junior led to his reputation to be difficult player to coach. That's why he dropped to a mid second round pick. The Hab's said at the time that they would groom him.

The issues started for Montreal management with the apparent issues with Mike Cammalleri. "Prime Time" was Cammalleri's nickname for PK because he took alot of space in the locker room. Thank God Hal Gill was there to guide PK but in the end Cammalleri (at his request) was dealt. Then came PK's bridge contract.... he was an RFA with no arbitration. Habs gave him 2.875 m for 2 years. PK was bitter... he wanted a long term deal! He wouldn't forget the next time around.

Then Hab's coach Therrien system was a high tempo structured breakout that required the D to make a crisp first pass to get out of the habs d zone and the forwards would dump the puck in the oppositions zone and then swarm the D to create outnumbered scoring chances. PK played this system very well in the 2012/13 season and won the Norris. In retrospect, He was never the same after that award. The following seasons he did way too much to make plays and didn't play the system.

But that didn't stop him from playing hard ball with Bergevin in the summer of 2013/14 with his contract negotiations. An 8 year/72 M$ contract. Bergevin had played hard on his bridge deal and now it was PK's turn. He was going to make more than Crosby and almost has much as Ovi. It didn't even reach arbitration, the habs brass reluctantly gave him what he wanted. What Bergevin did manage to get was not to have a no trade clause for the first 2 years of his contract.

The Habs now had 2 years to make it work with him. He needed to come back to the system (remember the Norris) and get along with his teammates (remember Cammalleri ... now it was with Pacioretty). But none of that happened... just the PK Subban show... the charities and everything! I would have hoped he kept all the money and just played the system.

I loved PK in an Habs jersey but he underachieved for the money he was getting. On top of that he had a history of dividing the room but does things can be worked out. And now he was underachieving in Nashville for the money he was getting. Poile could have traded Jossi but decided to stick with him instead of PK. Imagine the return on that trade!

Why have 2 established teams decided to part ways with PK? It's not because of race, politics, the old NHL or because he's vocal on or off the ice. It's because he makes to much money for what he brings to the table.

He has the potential to be a dominant player but he chooses to be a dominant person instead. I wish him all the best. I really do hope that he proves me wrong!
- asj197

Good post. Nice bit of history, and this does echo an important point. His production didn't always match what he was getting paid... It was more like he was a getting the 'Superstar' rate as opposed to getting paid for this actual production on the ice. P.K. did seem to clean up a lot of his locker room issues once he got to Nashville. In three years here, we never heard a peep about him being derisive or hard to get along with, unlike the issues he had in Montreal. Maybe he grew up a littler bit in that respect. Hopefully he takes the that imporved attitude over to New Jersey with him.