Report: Montreal Canadiens gauging the trade market on P.K. Subban

The Montreal Canadiens are reportedly gauging the trade market for star defenseman P.K. Subban 

The Montreal Canadiens have had a nightmare season. Their season has been especially hard on defenseman P.K. Subban, who has endured undeserved criticism from multiple sources. He’s even been called out by head coach Michel Therrien. The Canadiens have made it even worse by reportedly gauging interest in him on the trade market.

Even considering trading Subban is a terrible decision by the Canadiens. It will no doubt affect how Subban views the team and it wouldn’t be surprising if this makes him actually want to leave Montreal. That’s important because Subban has a no movement clause in his contract, which will kick in next season. The only way Subban will leave Montreal is if he wants to. This might just make him want to do that.

P.K. Subban has been one of the very few bright spots on the Canadiens this season. He’s having a Norris Trophy caliber season because he’s making such a positive difference whenever he’s on the ice. While he might lead the league in turnovers, that’s largely because he handles the puck so much. They are a result of risky plays, which Subban has to try to even give his team a chance to win.

Trading Subban would be as awful, if not worse, than trading goalie Patrick Roy. The Roy trade set the franchise back several years. If they trade Subban, it’s hard to see them getting fair value for him because he’s an elite defenseman. There’s only so many of those going around. Unless the Canadiens get one back for him, or at least a superstar forward, there’s no way for the Canadiens to even come close to getting a fair return for the superstar.

Should P.K. Subban be available via trade, they certainly won’t have a shortage of teams interested in him.