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Canadiens Playing With Fire Again in P.K. Subban Negotiations

  • Frank Doyle's Author profile. Frank Doyle

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It seems as though the Montreal Canadiens haven’t learned their lesson when it comes to appreciating P.K. Subban’s talent on the blue line.

Two years ago, Subban and the Canadiens went through a drawn-out contract dispute that stretched into the beginning of the regular season. Subban eventually signed a two-year, $5.75 million deal. After that, No. 76 went on to win the Norris Trophy that year and helped the Canadiens to a conference finals appearance last season. Subban has scored more than 90 points in the last season and a half, cementing himself as one of the most dynamic offensive defencemen in the world.

Now, the Canadiens need to realize that and pay him accordingly – and quickly.

Unless Montreal comes to a contract agreement with Subban before Friday, the two parties will head to arbitration resulting in a one or two-year deal for the star rearguard. But while there’s little doubt Subban will be wearing a Habs sweater in October, this is the team’s chance to sign him long-term and reward him for everything he’s already done for the franchise. If not, the team runs the risk of rubbing Subban the wrong way – again.

“I’ll answer one question about the negotiation: It’s been kept pretty quiet the whole time and it’s going to remain that way until a deal’s done,” Subban told reporters Saturday at the RBC Canadian Open at Royal Montreal. “As of right now, I’m just trying to enjoy the day and not think of anything.”

That’s exactly the way you’d hope he’d deal with this situation. It’s on the Habs to step up and offer him a deal that pays him among the best defencemen in the NHL, because that’s exactly what he is. The 25-year-old already gave the Canadiens a break in his last contract, so the onus is on team management to make this happen now.

The Montreal Canadiens open the regular season on Wednesday, Oct. 8 against the rival Toronto Maple Leafs. Sports Interaction has the Habs at -190 to finish with more regular season points than the Leafs. The over/under for the number of Canadian teams that make the playoffs this season is at 2.5 (under -120).