Prepare your grains of salt, rumor fans: there are a lot of murmurs about teams trying to trade for P.K. Subban, with the Edmonton Oilers being mentioned most often in the latest wave of speculation.
The Edmonton Journal is really revving up the talk, in part because Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin maybe hasn’t stomped out rumors emphatically enough?
Again, Bergevin could have come right out and said Subban is untouchable because he’s a No. 1 defenceman and there are so few of them, but the GM hasn’t done that. So the door is open, at least a crack, for the Oilers to keep trying to acquire the former Norris Trophy winner.
That’s not the only place where the argument seems to be that “the silence is deafening.”
TSN’s Bob McKenzie and Pierre LeBrun go into detail about Subban rumors in Insider Trading, noting that possible deals with high draft picks kick up the intensity of talks even more.
Ray Ferraro says he thinks there's a greater than 50% chance PK Subban changes teams this weekend.
— Platinum Seat Ghosts (@3rdPeriodSuits) June 23, 2016
This isn’t just about generating rumors around draft time. Subban’s no-trade clause kicks in on July 1, so if teams want to make a push for P.K., this is indeed the moment to do so.
Canadiens are not shopping Subban but other teams are indeed calling and more frequently as July 1 no-movement clause approaches...
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 22, 2016
As usual, hypothetical trades are being thrown around, too:
Ferraro would trade #4 and one of RNH/Draisaitl for Subban. Said if he was Edm, he'd want another small piece. Would you? #NHLDraft
— Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) June 23, 2016
Blame it on the rabid hockey market or any other number of factors, but things often seem a little weird with P.K. in Montreal. Even his massive charitable donations seem to birth some strange moments.
P.K. Subban didn't win a humanitarian award from the NHL and his own team didn't nominate him for another one.
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) June 22, 2016
Let that sink in. #NHLAwards
The Oilers really climbed up the rumor mill ranks, yet other trade-hungry teams have been mentioned too.
It’s tough to believe that the Habs would actually move P.K., and it sounds like Bergevin will shed some light on the situation in short order:
Let’s be clear: it’s very hard to believe that the Canadiens would trade Subban. These rumblings only add credence to the feeling that this could be an awfully interesting off-season and that draft weekend could continue to provide fascinating fodder.
GM Marc Bergevin will speak to the media in less than 30 minutes in Buffalo. #GoHabsGo #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/AneuF8HA7f
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 23, 2016
Hey, Evgeni Malkin’s name was out there - only for the Penguins to flatly deny rumors - so it’s an odd time. At least this isn’t boring ...
Everyone on twitter is losing their minds, meanwhile P.K. is... pic.twitter.com/vV9ALbGS7B
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) June 23, 2016
Related: Edmonton’s blueline search is on