Could Flyers target Subban?
Daily News Flyers blog
Could Flyers target Subban?
SUNRISE, Fla. -- With Andrej Meszaros out for at least a third of the season, the Flyers are in the market for a defenseman.
This time, acquiring a depth defenseman isn’t going to cut it. Bruno Gervais, Kurtis Foster and Andreas Lilja are serviceable third-pairing players. But a weak third pair, as they currently constitute by league standards, could hamper the Flyers’ chances. Especially in a shortened season.
Having Meszaros healthy, or any Top 4 defenseman, to use on the third unit substantially changes the outlook.
So, what options does Holmgren have?
> The Flyers can trade for a defenseman. In Pittsburgh, Simon Despres seems to be available. Despres has failed to impress in the early goings this season, and word is circulating in the rumor mill that Ray Shero may be willing to part with him. Despres (day-PRAY) is a 1st round pick (2009, 30th overall) and might be a nice piece moving forward in a new system. He’s 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, is a smooth skater and moves the puck well.
He’s just one name.
Here’s the problem: the Flyers don’t have a position of strength to deal from. They’re already thin at forward with Scott Laughton, Tye McGinn and others plugging important holes since Hartnell, Danny Briere and Zac Rinaldo are out. Holmgren is not willing to part with his young players, like a Sean Couturier.
> They could sign an unrestricted free agent. Brent Sopel is one name the Flyers could be interested in. Sopel, 36, hasn't played in the NHL since 2011. He's played in Russia for the last two seasons. He won the Stanley Cup in 2010 with Chicago.
> The Flyers can go after restricted free agent P.K. Subban in Montreal.
There have been rumblings of the Flyers’ interest in Subban for quite a while. Heck, what teams are not interested in Subban?
Pernell Karl Subban, 23, is a tough, young defender who can skate like the wind. He can play the power play and plays a physical style which would make him a perfect fit in Philadelphia. He was famously able to agitate former captain Mike Richards with his on-ice pestilence.
During Hartnell’s Hurricane Sandy charity scrimmage in Atlantic City in November, Subban was arguably the best player on the ice.
Subban, looking for his second NHL contract, is reportedly not close to a new deal with the Canadiens - and thus, has been sitting out this season. At this point, It’s not exactly clear what it would take for the Habs to sign him.
Per Renaud Lavoie of RDS Canada, the Canadiens’ offer has not changed since May: a two-year deal worth (a prorated) $2.3 million this year and $2.9 million in 2013-14. Subban wants a long-term deal. You can see why a two-year deal, especially at a prorated salary this year which shrinks with each day he goes unsigned, is an unpalatable option.
Could the Flyers possibly make a run at an offer sheet? Unlikely.
The Flyers have already tried the restricted free agent offer sheet game (see: Weber, Shea) and their poison pill wasn’t successful against one of the NHL’s least affluent teams. Why would another one work against one of hockey’s proud, well-to-do franchises in Montreal?
Seemingly, the only way to nab Subban on a offer sheet is to throw a ridiculous offer out there. You’d have to presume that anything within reason will be matched by new GM Marc Bergevin quickly - and Subban will be back on the ice within days.
Would a ridiculous offer be worth it? He is not a $4 million per year player. Like all young players, he still has his shortcomings. Plus, the salary cap is decreasing next season, from $70.2 million to $64.3 million, and while the Flyers are in good shape, they don’t have unlimited room.
There are a few creative approaches to try and lure Subban from Montreal, but a lot of those - like a max-offer for this season, which would be pro-rated because of the lockout, before dropping down to a more-manageable number - were snuffed out in the new, more strict CBA. The Flyers’ hands are tied; a Weber-like offer is tougher to pull off.
One thing that is interesting: depending on the salary, the rebuilding Canadiens might ultimately be persuaded into not matching by the number of draft picks involved. Here was last summer’s draft pick compensation chart (changing figure based on average league salary):
$1,110,249 or below - No Compensation
Over $1,110,249 to $1,682,194 - 3rd round pick
Over $1,682,194 to $3,364,391 - 2nd round pick
Over $3,364,391 to $5,046,585 - 1st round pick, 3rd
Over $5,046,585 to $6,728,781 - 1st round pick, 2nd, 3rd
Over $6,728,781 To $8,410,976 - Two 1st Round Picks, 2nd, 3rd
Over $8,410,976 - Four 1st Round Picks
Question number 3: is Subban worth a 1st and a 3rd round pick? I believe the Flyers would not mind parting with that. But they’ve drafted incredibly well in the first round over the last 2 years, with Couturier and Laughton making the jump directly to the NHL.
The Flyers could also work out a trade for Subban’s rights, but again, what can they offer in return that doesn’t weaken their team?
To me, all of those things make it unlikely that Subban receives an offer sheet from anyone, let alone the Flyers.
The longer the Subban saga goes on, the more interesting it becomes. Stay tuned.
For the latest updates, follow Frank Seravalli on Twitter: @DNFlyers
Odds from Bovada.lv: What will happen next for P.K. Subban?
Plays a Game for the Montreal Canadiens -200 (1/2)
Plays a Game for another NHL Team +150 (3/2)
Go get him Homer. Give up the picks. Flyers are young enough. And PK Is only 23, so give Habs a 1st and a 2nd. This guy is ready to play now. Why worry about future prospects.— mortt1956- Good player...go get him.— Hobo Floto Voto
- i like subban to the tune of 3-4 million, but i'd be hesitant to give up an everyday player, ie: Matt Read. Obviously Couts off the table. I think they like Laughton too much to part ways. Not alot in the cupboard in the adirondacks. i think subban would fit in well and god knows we need a multi-faceted dman.— AndyReidsMustache
- I like Holmgren's aggressiveness and trying to better the team but I'm starting to wonder what is the plan? Too many players that have been traded from here go on to win the cup with a different team. If he trades Coutourier for Subban, i will be highly disapointed. this year is a wash , just stay with what's here and get a high draft pick this summer and reevaluate. I think laviolette has to be reevaluated also. The Flyers should be one of the teams in best shape after the lockout as they had the most players playing elsewhere and they are off to the same slow 1st period starts as usual. it may be time to clean house— debbyt
- so which is it?-"if he trades Coutourier, I will be highly disappointed"....."just stay with whats here...."---but then you say it may be time to clean house--?? — btbenz
- I think the Flyers having so many players play elsewhere during the lockout actually hurt the team and contributed to the slow start. All these guys were playing for different teams with different players. While it was good for them to play and stay in game shape while earning a pay check, they were playing in different systems with players that have different tendencies than the guys on this team. They may have been better off just staying home and skating together in Vorhees. I'm sure they could have found a few college teams that would have loved to play a scrimmage game against locked out Flyers.
Hindsight is 20/20 though and all that matters at this point is they figure out how to sustain a forecheck and stop turning the puck over.— FatEagle - NOOOOOOOOOO! This guy's right up there with Crosby as a whiner and head-job!! He'll be a major diversion in the locker room.— dogman5
- I agree 100%. Subban is arrogant, and takes stupid, selfish penalties as a result. He is the LAST thing we need in the room or on the ice. That's why the Habs are willing to let him go, it's not about his contract.
Let some other team get saddled with him.
— backhand - Flyers should try targeting the net....maybe the would win a few more games!— STEPHEN1988
- Yea. God forbid you shake up that winning locker room by adding a good player. Maybe he'll teach Hartnell how not to fall 3 times a shift.— FlyersLosersFor38Years
- I'd give up Read and a 3rd rd pick .. i think that's fair ... flyers can part w/ Read with Briere coming back and last year w/ Read leading all rooking in goals , may have been an aboration ... Homer do YOUR thing ...— ingy9
- On cue Read drops a hat trick.... kid is a sniper!
Go get a goalie who doesn't give up 19 rebounds a game right in front of the net... get Luongo! Even if we have to eat The Bryzaster's contract for a year and then amnesty him.— BuddyBall92 - ??? Absolutely not!!!...Luongo has a loaded contract more expensive than the deal Bryz has...that guy has zero heart, is a clown and proven Stanley Cup Final choke...hell no. It's no secret he puts himself before his Canuck team, that's why he's riding the bench #2 behind C. Schneider this season in Vancouver. Unfortunately, you ride out the shortened season with our Russian tender (his 2nd chance) and see what the Summer's draft, free agency and trade opportunities arise to address the Flyers goaltending properly. Ultimately, the Flyers are going to eat in upwards of $23,000,000 million to buyout the Russian but need to address it...while the $$ maybe pocket change for Comcast.. it's still utterly hard to fathom how sweet of a deal this guy got, a complete head scratch with just Phoenix and Anaheim on his resume. — Visby00
- the fact that the Flyers HAVE drafted well recently, and have other good young players, is exactly the reason they can afford to give up a couple of good picks to get him--trade the picks, keep the players.— btbenz
Why not go get Chara too? And while you're on hold, trade for Crosby? Fantasy hockey at its lowest. Don't forget to trade your editor for a blow up doll.
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