Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin downplayed the swirling rumors about a possible P.K. Subban trade, although some wonder if he’s still leaving the door open just a bit.
Bergevin said that he isn’t shopping Subban, yet he is receiving phone calls inquiring about the star defenseman.
NHL GMs are prone to playing coy, so maybe the most important bit of phrasing is that Bergevin doesn’t think a Subban trade would be “realistic.”
Bergevin was asked specifically if it's realistic that he will trade Subban. "I would say no," he said.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) June 23, 2016
"When teams call about P.K., I listen, but I say no." - Marc Bergevin on the numerous rumours surrounding a trade involving Subban
— Canadiens MontrĂ©al (@CanadiensMTL) June 23, 2016
For some, it’s not quite enough, as on one hand there’s phrasing that seems dismissive:
Here's Bergevin in English, on getting calls about P.K. Subban and potential to trade him. #Canadians #NHL #Oilers pic.twitter.com/njjoEkpQuu
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) June 23, 2016
... Yet there are nagging phrases such as “never say never.”
Bergevin on PK trade potential: “You never say never. If someone offered me half of their team you gotta make it work. But not my intention"
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) June 23, 2016
For some observers, any GM would be silly not to listen to offers or “take calls.”
If #Habs Marc Bergevin - or any GM - is not at least listening, then he is not doing his job.
— Dave Stubbs 🇨🇦 (@Dave_Stubbs) June 23, 2016
Marc Bergevin says he's received calls on all of his top players over the years. "All you do is you do your job as a (GM) to listen."
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) June 23, 2016
Others wonder if Bergevin could do more to really put the rumors to rest, however:
If you're taking time to listen to offers and not telling teams to stop calling, who initiated the process seems irrelevant.
— Dan Tencer (@dantencer) June 23, 2016
Bergevin’s press conference cools down that hot stove to “warm,” but it probably doesn’t turn off the Subban talk altogether.
There's a benefit for Bergevin to listen to offers when it's kept quiet. There's also a benefit to nipping a media storm in the bud.
— Arpon Basu (@ArponBasu) June 23, 2016
Montreal’s franchise blueliner will see a no-trade clause kick in on July 1, so it’s possible that rumors will continue to trickle in for the next week-and-change.
Maybe they’ll slow down merely by process of elimination?
COL had previously had talks with MTL about P.K. Subban but Avs do not consider themselves in that picture now.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 23, 2016