Nashville Predators: Recapping the Biggest Storylines of the Offseason
By Chad Minton
P.K. Subban traded to New Jersey
It’s always hard to let go, especially when it’s a larger-than-life personality like P.K. Subban. A great ambassador to the game and a guy that elevates the brand of whatever hockey team he’s playing for. Truth be told it had to happen, as hard as it was. The Predators couldn’t make the offseason moves necessary to make this team better if they held onto him.
Subban had a $9 million cap hit, the highest on the team. The return from the Devils for Subban looks bleak and bare bones when you initially look at it. However, you always have to look at the broader picture. The Predators get projects in defenseman Steven Santini, Jeremy Davies and a couple of second-round draft picks. Nothing to get you too excited, but this freed up space for an even bigger move that was the prize of the offseason.
Just focusing on this trade, we have to choose to remember all of the great that Subban did for this franchise in his short time here. Subban came to Nashville and made an impact immediately. He embraced the city, the culture and delivered by getting the Predators within two wins of a Stanley Cup. Tough to see him go, but it’s the nature of the business. At least he went to the Eastern Conference.