The P.K. Subban era is over in Montreal.
The Montreal Canadiens dealt the defenceman to the Nashville Predators in exchange for defenceman Shea Weber, as first reported by Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos.
https://twitter.com/RealKyper/status/748243295504052225
The deal was made official by the Canadiens on Twitter.
“We completed today an important transaction which I am convinced will make the Canadiens a better team,” Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin said in a team statement. “It was also one of the most difficult decisions I had to make as general manager of the Montreal Canadiens. In Shea Weber, we get a top rated NHL defenceman with tremendous leadership, and a player who will improve our defensive group as well as our power play for many years to come. Shea Weber led all NHL defencemen last season with 14 power play goals. He is a complete rearguard with impressive size and a powerful shot. P.K. Subban is a special and very talented player. He provided the Canadiens organization with strong performances on the ice and generous commitment in the community. I wish him the best of luck with the Predators.”
Welcome to Smashville! #predspride pic.twitter.com/HT7ETcX2DN
— Nashville Locker Room (@NSHLockerRoom) June 29, 2016
Subban, 27, has six years remaining on his contract that carries an annual salary cap hit of $9 million. He scored six goals with 45 assists while averaging over 26 minutes of ice time per game in 68 games last season.
The 43rd overall pick of the 2007 NHL Draft has 63 goals and 215 assists in 434 career NHL games.
Weber, 30, is under contract for 10 more seasons. His average annual salary cap hit is $7.85 million. He has spent the last 11 seasons with the Predators since being selected in the second round of the 2003 NHL Draft, and has racked up 166 goals and 277 assists in 763 career games.
“P.K. Subban is an elite offensive defenceman with tremendous skill and contagious energy that makes the Nashville Predators a better team now and into the future,” Predators GM David Poile said in a statement. “Superstar defencemen of his calibre are a rare commodity, and we are thrilled to add him to the organization.”
Bergevin will address the local media at 6:15 p.m. ET.
