The Edmonton Oilers reportedly had conversations with the Montreal Canadiens about P.K. Subban. but talks stalled when the Oilers balked at Subban’s salary.
https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/773012530859876352
In an excellent feature from Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.ca detailing the “23 minutes” where the Subban, Shea Weber, Steven Stamkos, Taylor Hall and Adam Larsson moves all went down, sources told him the Oilers didn’t get far with the Habs on Subban because of the talented defenseman’s remaining six-year, $54 million owed.
“Chiarelli wouldn’t comment, but multiple sources said conversations between the Canadiens and Oilers did not last very long at all. The Oilers did not like the ask, and they know McDavid could become the highest-paid player in the NHL. They were not interested in pairing whatever that number will be with Subban’s $9M.
An Edmonton-Montreal deal was never close.”
It’s questionable reasoning for an Oilers squad desperate to acquire a top-flight rearguard not to trade one of the game’s most talented defenseman. Chiarelli has to keep his options open regarding future cap flexibility, but Subban is worth all the money he’s paid. He’d fit in nicely with Edmonton.
The rest is history. The Edmonton Oilers dealt Taylor Hall for Adam Larsson and Subban was shipped in a one-for-one deal for Shea Weber. It’s impossible to know how much the Canadiens wanted for Subban, but there’s an alternate universe where the Oilers kept Hall and acquired Subban. That would have been a hell of a team.
