The on-ice aftermath of P.K. Subban's move from Montreal to Nashville has yet to be seen, but the shock of the offseason's biggest deal lingers on.
And while Subban's trade to the Predators for Shea Weber drew the ire of many Canadiens fans, the team's most important player sees things differently.
Goaltender Carey Price believes Weber better fits Montreal's mold, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports, in an article exploring the behind-the-scenes of June's mega-deal.
"I was shocked like everyone else. But I had an idea that it was possible," Price said. "The way our game is structured and the way P.K. plays … we’re headed in a different direction.
"P.K. is an offensive defenseman and a risk-taker," he continued. "That’s made him successful, that’s the way he plays the game. He doesn’t want to change that and I respect that. I respect the way that he plays the game … his type of enthusiasm and his ability to raise fans out of their seats. That’s a special gift and something that not very many players are able to do. But the way we’re coached on our team, the way our team is structured, that’s not what were looking for. We’re looking for a steady type of defenseman that makes quick plays and is able to move the puck right away. Shea fits that bill perfectly."
While Montreal's tumultuous 2015-16 season may be defined by the resulting Subban trade, the loss of Price after a first-place October was paramount to the Canadiens' free-fall down the Eastern Conference standings.
Price played behind Weber at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, and will do so again at September's World Cup of Hockey, before the pair teams up in Montreal.
