While the New Jersey Devils aren’t exactly true sellers, as we outlined in our Trade Deadline Primer last month, there is one name that appears to be on his way out. P.K. Subban met with Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald over the weekend according to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, and was told that the team wouldn’t be extending him. That means as Fitzgerald put it, “if the move makes sense for the New Jersey Devils…I have to do what’s best for the organization.”
Subban of course comes with a huge $9MM cap hit, meaning that it would need to be a perfect fit and would likely require the Devils to retain 50 percent. But with the number of depth options that are moved at the deadline each year that don’t possess anywhere near Subban’s upside, it does seem like some teams will at least inquire about the veteran defenseman.
There’s no doubt that a 32-year-old Subban is a shadow of the player that won the Norris Trophy in 2013 and was a finalist two other times, most recently in 2018. He is averaging fewer than 20 minutes a night for the first time in his entire career and still provides risky, inconsistent play in his own end. He does have 18 points in 53 games though–none of which have come on the powerplay–and can contribute offensively when put in the right situations.
Not to be overlooked is the simple fact that Subban is right-handed, a trait that seems to be in higher demand at the NHL trade deadline than at any other time in history. There are simply not very many NHL-level right-handed defensemen available at any given time, and contenders are always looking to add an extra one for a potential long playoff run.
For his own part, Subban does have a long successful history in the NHL postseason. He’s suited up in 96 playoff games during his career and has 18 goals and 62 points in those contests. That includes a run to the finals with the Nashville Predators in 2017 and several other lengthy runs, usually logging more than 25 minutes a night. That’s not the role he would play on any acquiring team, but the experience is still valuable as the games get tighter.
An unrestricted free agent in the summer, it’s unclear what the future holds for Subban. It won’t be in New Jersey though, something that seemed obvious when the team went out and signed Dougie Hamilton to a massive seven-year, $63MM contract last offseason. With Damon Severson still in place on the right side for at least one more year (unless he too is dealt at some point) and more youth coming through the pipeline, Subban will have to find somewhere else to play next season; he’ll potentially get a sneak peek at a new market in the coming weeks.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images`
Trono can use him. Trade Holl or Dermott for him, NJ retains half and spend another 4th to Detroit to retain another half, Trono gets PK at a $2.25M cap hit
if we are retaining half then we arent also sending a pick as a sweetener especially not for “Trontos” sloppy seconds
Edit: Trono sends the 4th to Detroit. NJ gets a serviceable D man for someone that is going to be let go. NJ can flip either or those Dmen for another pick. 2 picks for someone that will walk is a good value. But yeah, I see your pride is more important.
why would Toronto do this? they need to get better defensively. a shut down defender PK certainly is not.
Good point, they should deal for Gio, Braun, Haag, deHaan or Manson. Chariot is too hyped.
Well Johnny, you may have to send a pick just to get someone to take Holl from you, as he’s not worth his contract
You mean that SpeakOfTheDevil isn’t brain-damaged, and has no more wish for his team to just hand goodies over for nothing than any other poster here? Yeah, fixed that for you.
PK will sign in Toronto next year for league minimum or close to that. Just like Spezza and Simmons.
différent situation. Spezza and Simmonds were leaf fans growing up and wanted to play near home. PK maybe would consider to play near home, but grew up a habs fan.
Gonna have to bring in a third club.
Late round picks and one of the d Tronna has soured on.
This man is the biggest nothing since the invention of the zero. He’s got the brain span of a dehydrated BB with the -9 IQ. He put his brain and the head of a bird the damn thing fly backwards
P.K. was a good game show host.
Can’t see anyone needing him. If you are in the playoff mix, you have an offense-first D-man already and probably are looking to strengthen the defensive side of things on the 2nd or 3rd pair. Not only is PK a 9million cap hit, he isn’t a lockdown or complimentary defenseman.
Saw his last couple of games. He’s a shell of his old self. Not sure why anyone would trade for him, other than his name. His experience isn’t going to help on the ice.
Remember when PK was the most popular athlete in all of Nashville? Felt like superstar status. How far he fell.
Yeah, but that was inevitable. Big, heavy athletes don’t age well, and what most people — including most GMs — keep on forgetting is that athletic performance peaks around 27-28, and most folks decline after that. For every Patrice Bergeron, Alex Ovechkin and Joe Pavelski who maintain high performance deep into their thirties, there are a half dozen guys like Thornton, Eriksson, Ladd and Johnson hanging on as fourth liners and bottom pairing folks, and a dozen agemates playing out the string in Europe or long retired.
Like everyone into their thirties not named Brad Marchand, Subban’s declining, not improving. PK might have fallen off of the cliff sooner than some, but it was going to happen all the same.
Not really fair to include Thornton in there. He had 82 points at age 36 and didnt decline hard until he was 40yo.