On the Montreal Canadiens and P.K. Subban …
Renaud Lavoie: The NHL is looking into a complaint of tampering after Canucks GM Jim Benning made comments about Steven Stamkos and P.K. Subban.
Conor McKenna: Bob McKenzie on TSN 690 on P.K. Subban: “I don’t think he’s gonna be traded.”
Pierre LeBrun: At this time, don’t see a Canadiens trade they would make for Subban. They were listening to offers, but nothing was good enough.
Pierre LeBrun: The Canadiens can obviously get better offers for Subban before his no-movement clause kicks in on July 1st.
Kevin Weekes: Have been told that the Oilers are making a push for Subban and offering Leon Draisaitl and a swap of first round picks. That sounds low though.
Chris Nichols of Today’s Slapshot: Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet 590 on if he believes Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin when he said a P.K. Subban trade was not realistic.
“Well, this is what I think. I think he’s saying it’s not realistic because he knows it’s a hard trade to do. Not because they’re not trying to do it.
“I think there’s a couple of factors here. No. 1, I don’t know how big the market is for P.K. – not because he’s not a good player that everybody would want, but because his contract is big. $9 million. For example, I’m sure the New York Rangers and P.K. Subban would be a perfect marriage, there’s just no chance that’s going to be able to happen. So I think it’s very limited.
“No. 2 – look, who can make this trade. Vancouver, as you guys hinted, Jim Benning, he’s in this. But let’s just say for example, what’s Vancouver’s best offer? Is it Chris Tanev, Bo Horvat, and the 5th overall pick? If Montreal does that, can you sell that, even if you get Pierre-Luc Dubois, who’s the player that Montreal wants.
Friedman mentions that he heard the Canadiens were asking for more than the No. 4 pick and Leon Draisaitl.
When asked how much more, Friedman mentions maybe Oscar Klefbom.
“So I think the reason he says it’s not realistic is not because he’s not trying to do it, it’s because he knows it’s a hard deal to make. Because he’s got to make a deal his fan base is going to be happy with, and I think the market is limited. Colorado, I think was in this, but I don’t think they like the contract, No. 1, and I don’t think that they could work out the players.”