Predators fans take deep breath, GM shoots down P.K. Subban trade rumors

Despite recent trade rumors, Nashville Predators General Manager, David Poile assured fans that Norris Trophy finalist, P.K. Subban will be back with the team for the 2018-2019 NHL season.

P.K. Subban is a good player. In fact, according to his boss, he’s really good.

Somehow though, the former Norris Trophy winner seems to find himself on the wrong end of trade talks on a yearly basis.

Like past summers, speculation around the hockey world had the 29-year old as a prime candidate to be traded away from his current team. Thankfully for Subban and his supporters, the Predators GM, David Poile quickly dismissed this possibility.

“Nobody has even called me about him; P.K. played terrific this year,” said Poile, according to SI. “He played really well..he’s one of the three candidates for the Norris Trophy. I really don’t know where this comes from,” he added.

Part of the reason for the rumors regarding a Subban trade is the expiring contracts of his teammates Ryan Ellis and Roman Josi. Like No. 76, Eliis and Josi are both top-end defenders who consistently anchor the Preds’ blue-line. Following this season, Ellis will likely earn a substantial raise from his current salary of $3.5million; something Poile also acknowledged.

“Yeah, we’re trying,…We’ve talked to Rick Curran, his agent, and we’ll continue to talk. It’s a big contract and it’s an important one,” he uttered.

Keeping that in mind, its entirely possible Poile’s long-term plans include a more financially-friendly combination of Ellis and Josi to sustain the teams backend.

Of the rumors, the sexiest trade suggestion was a blockbuster deal with the Ottawa Senators for fellow defensive superstar, Erik Karlsson.

The aforementioned teams swapping two players of the elite magnitude is difficult to imagine, however, it was done before just two short years ago. For those unaware, Subban was brought into Nashville by a similar blockbuster deal that witnessed himself and Shea Weber trade places.

Since the trade, P.K. has been the more successful of the two defensemen posting a higher sum of goals and points than his counterpart. More importantly, Subban played a key role in helping Nashville reach its first Stanley Cup Final in the history of the franchise. Weber meanwhile, has failed help Montreal win a playoff-series since acquiring him.

Overall, Subban has been one of the top defensemen since entering the league. Over the past seven seasons, P.K. is third amongst players at his position in points, eighth in assists, and is fourth in both power play goals and playoff points since 2012.

This past season, he finished with 16 goals and 43 assists to finish with 59 points and a +18 rating.

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For the time being, it seems Subban will remain in Nashville for at least one more season. However, with his hefty price tag of $9million and the Predators needing room to re-sign both Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis in the coming years, it may take another Stanley Cup run to silence the rumours and keep the 29-year old in Music-city for the long term.