Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

Now What Montreal?

08/01/2014 at 6:02pm EDT

Hockey news is slow this time of year and I hate to concentrate on one topic, but this is a good read...

from Elliotte Friedman of CBC,

The Canadiens realize now that Subban wants more than they would like to offer. They have a value, he believes he has a higher value -- and is probably right when it comes to the open market. Is it because they want him to take a discount? Or, is it because they still have doubts about his game? Whatever the case, they now know this is going to cost them more than they wanted, or expected.

It's not the end of the world if Subban plays next year under an arbitration award. Montreal can sign him to a new deal after Jan. 1, 2015. Everyone can go back to their corners and calm down. But the Canadiens have to know by next summer. They simply cannot allow Subban to start the 2015-16 season without a long-term deal.

Subban can decide to accept Montreal's offer, but, as we move closer to his UFA status, history says that's unlikely.

Montreal has four choices now. It can accept the award and sit for a while. It can offer Subban eight years at what he wants. It can offer him a four-year deal at $34-$38 million and say, "Worst comes to worst, you hit the market again at age 29 with a higher cap." Or it trades him.

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About Kukla's Korner Hockey

Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.

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