The Montreal Canadiens will forever be near and dear to now-former Hab P.K. Subban's heart.
The former Norris Trophy-winning defenseman took to Instagram - courtesy of Sportsnet's Tim and Sid - on Wednesday to thank the fans and the city for all the support during his six years with the team.
Subban concluded his time in Montreal with 63 goals and 278 points in 434 games.
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Taylor Hall wasn't thrilled to be dealt by the Edmonton Oilers.
The newest member of the New Jersey Devils admitted he would've liked to remain with the club that drafted him.
"Little shocked at first," Hall to said Deb Kaufman Placey of MSG Network. "Disappointed not to see it through in Edmonton, feel a little slighted."
Hall didn't experience playoff hockey during his six seasons with the Oilers - never managing higher than third in the the division standings - but the 24-year-old still felt he was part of the solution.
"Thought I was a good soldier," Hall said. "But, looking forward to going to a team that wants me. Excited for a new challenge."
While Hall remains upset about being traded from the only team he's dressed for, he wants to do all he can for his new club.
"It's pretty hard not to feel slighted or be disappointed, but going to do everything in my power to make New Jersey proud, they made this deal," Hall said.
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Well then.
This was no news dump; a vortex of activity hit the NHL offices Wednesday afternoon. Three of the NHL's biggest stars in P.K. Subban, Taylor Hall, and Shea Weber were dealt, and the highest-profile impending unrestricted free agent of the post lockout era, Steven Stamkos, forewent the exceedingly rare opportunity to hit the open market. All in less than an hour.
Here's what it means to the five teams directly involved.
Marc Bergevin disclosed his antiquated process in trading Subban - one of the greatest players and personalities in today's game. This is a player who offered something undeniably unique to hockey in Montreal, both on and off the ice. He made a city and team better.
Undeniably, Bergevin's impetus runs deeper than what we're privy to. He's sided with a coach, clique, or something in the organization adverse to his former rock star defender, because despite this deal involving effective, big-money blue-liners with hefty term, it doesn't add up. Subban is beginning his prime seasons, and will be a team-friendly 33 years old when his $72-million contract expires in 2022. Weber will be 31 - with a decade remaining on his deal - before ever making his Habs debut.
But, it would be remiss not to credit David Poile. Nashville's GM has dealt Weber, as well as Seth Jones (in a pair of hockey deals), over the last few months, and has maintained what might be the most contemporary top-four unit in the NHL with Subban, Roman Josi, Mattias Ekholm, and Ryan Ellis.
Peter Chiarelli's quest for a No.1 defenseman remains incomplete, but his process, now for the first time, has now come at the expense of something significant.
Taylor Hall isn't without imperfections; there's a reason that he isn't lionized quite on the same level as the game's greats. But the fact of the matter is, he produces at the very highest percentile. His 2.49 even-strength points per 60 minutes over the last four season trails Sidney Crosby, Jamie Benn, and the 45 games of Connor McDavid.
Essentially, Hall's value is on par with a No. 1 defenseman for which Adam Larsson is not. Rather, Larsson is a project, and a 23-year-old who - once polished - could turn into a legitimate top-pair defender on a good team. But like many defenders who have washed up in Edmonton in recent seasons, he'll immediately be sent in over his head.
It's a high price to pay for potential, and potentially stunted growth.
Steve Yzerman will beat you in a game of chicken.
After months of speculation, dissecting the psychology of "liked" tweets, and teams moving mountains to create cap room, Steven Stamkos will not be an unrestricted free agent, though he was courted like one.
With teams now permitted to speak to free agents before July 1, Stamkos did have the opportunity to truly explore other pastures, but ultimately decided, and with days to spare, that the offer Steve Yzerman left on the table weeks ago was the best one for him.
With that decision, Stamkos will go on to net a truck-load of lightly-taxed dollars, while his GM's legend grows.
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The business of professional hockey is a cruel one.
Connor McDavid found that out Wednesday, after he learned the Edmonton Oilers traded Taylor Hall to the New Jersey Devils for Adam Larsson.
"It's definitely a shock," McDavid said, according to the Edmonton Sun's Rob Tychkowski. "Change is exciting, but it's upsetting to see a teammate, a dear friend, and my roommate go."
McDavid and Hall didn't play much together in their only season in Edmonton, as Leon Draisatil centered the left winger for the most part. But clearly rooming together resulted in a bond.
Like Hall, McDavid was drafted first overall by the Oilers, and immediately became the face - and presumed savior - of the franchise.
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While the Montreal Canadiens faithful appear devastated to see P.K. Subban traded to the Nashville Predators for fellow defenseman Shea Weber, Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews is relieved by the ramifications of the trade.
Related: Canadiens fans outraged after Subban trade to Nashville
Toews has battled against Weber since he joined the NHL in 2007-08, but will no longer have to go head-to-head with the punishing blue-liner with Weber exiting the Central Division.
Hey Webs good luck in Montreal thanks for leaving our division! #relief
— Jonathan Toews (@JonathanToews) June 29, 2016
The Predators and Blackhawks battled five times last season and have squared off 63 times - including the playoffs - since 2007-08.
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David Poile is pumped.
The Nashville Predators general manager acquired P.K. Subban on Wednesday in a trade for Shea Weber, and his team got younger and more electric in the process.
"He is the modern-day defenseman," Poile said of Subban, who's currently vacationing in Paris. "Today, after the trade, I am certain we have one of the best defenses in the National Hockey League."
It's tough to argue. The Predators' top four includes Subban, Roman Josi, Mattias Ekholm, and Ryan Ellis.
Peter Laviolette said he could see P.K. Subban playing with either Roman Josi or Mattias Ekholm. No hard commitment.
— Adam Vingan (@AdamVingan) June 29, 2016
"This is a guy I would pay money to see," Poile added about Subban. "He is exciting."
Poile on why now was the time to trade Shea Weber, despite longstanding rumors: "It was the player. Period." Referring to P.K. Subban.
— Adam Vingan (@AdamVingan) June 29, 2016
Poile also called Subban "offensively an equal" to Weber, but also saluted his former captain, who until Wednesday was a lifelong Predator.
"Shea Weber is probably one of the best players, if not the best player in our franchise history," Poile said.
It's been a busy week for Poile. He signed Filip Forsberg to a long-term contract extension Monday.
Head coach Peter Laviolette said he and Poile will sit down and discuss which Predator will be next to wear the "C."
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Edmonton Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli made a bold decision Wednesday, trading former first overall pick Taylor Hall to the New Jersey Devils for defenseman Adam Larsson.
Chiarelli spoke to the media following the transaction and admitted Hall didn't take too kindly to the news.
Hall was "very disappointed" by trade, says Chiarelli. "He thought he would be part of the solution here."
— Mike Halford (@HalfordPHT) June 29, 2016
On the flip side, Chiarelli alluded to the seller's market for strong, right-handed defenders, which are not readily available.
"We've pounded the payment and this is the price you have to pay," said Chiarelli. "It's a need-based trade. I feel very strongly about this player. I feel he's barely scratched he surface."
The club apparently worked hard to make a deal for a defenseman at the NHL draft, but ultimately couldn't pull the trigger.
Chiarelli says landing Puljujarvi at draft made it easier to part ways with Hall.
— Mike Halford (@HalfordPHT) June 29, 2016
Meanwhile, the Devils appear to be the winners of the deal. Chiarelli insists, though, his club had to take advantage of Larsson's improved play.
"I could see his game trending up and it was time to act on it," said Chiarelli. "I feel very strongly about this player. I feel like he's only scratched the surface. He's really excited."
Chiarelli expects Larsson to fill in on the club's top pairing, but with the free-agent market opening Friday Chiarelli admits his club is likely not done.
"If we don't do anything on July 1, it's not for a lack of trying," Chiarelli said, according to Mike Halford of ProHockeyTalk.
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Here are the fantasy repercussions following the blockbuster trade between the Nashville Predators and the Montreal Canadiens, exchanging defensemen Shea Weber and P.K. Subban:
Subban's stock is on the rise with the move to the Music City. He joins Roman Josi, Mattias Ekholm and Ryan Ellis to form the most mobile defense core in the entire NHL. Weber played almost exclusively with Josi, but it is unclear at this point whether Subban will fill that same role.
Regardless of who his partner will be, Subban will play big-time minutes. He averaged 26:22 per game last season, whereas Weber played 25:23.
While Weber has an absolute bomb of a slap shot, Subban is no stranger to letting it rip. His six goals last season represent the lowest single-season total of his career, but he still managed 51 points in 68 games. Subban is a much better puck-mover than Weber however, vastly improving the Predators power play.
Nashville had the 16th-best power play in the NHL last year, but the addition of Subban (and a full year of C Ryan Johansen) makes it a very strong possibility it moves into the top 10 or even the top five. Fellow potential power-play mates Josi, Johansen, RW Filip Forsberg and LW James Neal are all that much more dangerous with an elite puck-mover like Subban on the back end.
While an improved supporting cast will certainly help Subban, perhaps the biggest reason why the defenseman could have the a career-year is head coach Peter Laviolette. As one of the few coaches in the NHL with an offense-first mentality, his teams have always been fantasy-friendly.
In the 10 years where Laviolette was the head coach of a team for the entire season, those clubs have finished in the top-half of the league in goals every single year. His system was truly put on display in his first year in Nashville when many players suddenly became fantasy relevant after playing for the defensive-minded Barry Trotz for many years.
This will be a very nice change for Subban, who played under the defensive-minded Michel Therrien for the past four seasons. It is worth noting Therrien and his star defenseman didn't always see eye-to-eye, so the fresh start will certainly be nice for Subban.
Subban joins a clear-cut top-three fantasy defenseman trio of Erik Karlsson and Brent Burns. Karlsson still has a step ahead of the other two, but don't be surprised to see Subban surpass Burns, despite a 27-goal season last year from the San Jose Sharks blueliner. All three will undoubtedly be taken in the first two rounds of 10- or 12-team drafts.
If he wasn't already before, Subban is a player who must be kept in dynasty leagues. As previously mentioned, the 27-year-old is entering his prime seasons in a much better situation than he was previously in.
In draft-position-based keeper leagues it all depends on where you took Subban in 2015. If he was a third-round pick in 12-team leagues, keeping him in the second-round presents solid value. He likely didn't go later than that. Don't bother keeping him in Round 1 if you took him in Round 2 last season.
Weber finished with 20 goals a season ago - good enough for fourth among NHL defensemen. However, he likely won't reach this total in Montreal. As mentioned in the Subban breakdown, he goes from the offensive-minded bench boss of Peter Laviolette to the defense-first Michel Therrien.
He will still play big-time minutes for the Habs and anchor their top power-play unit, but his upside is limited. Veteran D Andrei Markov is still an adequate power-play specialist, but he is well past his prime and is a significant downgrade from Josi.
Subban played mostly with Markov last season, so it's possible Weber could slot right in there. Markov is 37, however, which would represent a very old top-D pair with the 30-year-old Weber.
While Weber might help the Habs more in the defensive end and in the locker room, all of the club's forwards are hurt by the loss of Subban's puck-moving ability.
Don't be the one to take Weber in your redraft league. It's not that he has no value all of a sudden, but he likely won't return his ADP value. Weber was the ninth defenseman off the board in most standard leagues a season ago, and his 2015-16 20-goal campaign will keep him in the top-15.
Younger defensemen with more upside like Victor Hedman, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and John Carlson among others should all be taken ahead of Weber. He will likely finish outside of the top-20 defensemen by the end of 2016-17.
In standard keeper leagues, it's still probably best to keep Weber. His name alone can still garner plenty in return via trade. His 20-goal season a year ago can be the main selling point.
In draft-position-based keeper leagues, don't bring back Weber.
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