Geoff Burke-US PRESSWIRE
With the NHL lockout set to potentially begin in the next couple of days, the Montreal Canadiens have still failed to reach a deal with restricted free agent defenseman P.K. Subban. Because of that, they’ve apparently discussed him with at least one team: the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Flyers are known to be in the market for some defensive help. They’ve already lost two blue liners to injury, Matt Carle to free agency and it is still looking like Chris Pronger may never take the ice for a National Hockey League game again–not to mention their failed attempt to get Shea Weber.
Subban is the type of guy who would make perfect sense for the Flyers. He’s an up-and-coming defenseman in this league and has the potential to be an elite player. He finished with 36 points last year, which was just his second full season in the league. He has great offensive skill, a big shot and is physical back there. He really could be the total package.
Philly needs a no. 1 d-man. The Habs want to pay Subban much less than he feels he is worth. An offer sheet is completely unlikely–it would have happened already. Besides, the Habs would have matched it and it would have been another team for the Flyers to anger after they did the same with the Weber offer sheet.
In the end, how serious are these trade talks? If they’re still ongoing, they probably haven’t gotten too serious. The Habs reportedly wanted Sean Couturier in a deal and the Flyers have been pretty adamant about the fact that they are not parting with him. They wouldn’t for Weber, they surely won’t for Subban.
If the Flyers could find a more reasonable price for him, meaning no Couturier and no Brayden Schenn, then this is something that could become reality. Until then, as Greg Wyshynski put it over on Puck Daddy, “it’s probably just a tire kicking.”
But if teams are making pushes to get players locked up before Sept. 15, then who knows?
