The Nashville Predators acquired P.K. Subban from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Shea Weber on Wednesday in a blockbuster swap of All-Star defensemen two days before free agency opens.
Subban won the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman in 2013 and had six goals and 45 assists last season before suffering an injury. The offensive-minded, dynamic 27-year-old has 63 goals and 215 assists in 434 career games, all with the Canadiens.
He said he was not surprised by the trade because there had been so many rumors since he signed a $72 million, eight-year contract in the summer of 2014. Subban’s no-movement clause that would’ve allowed him to block any trade was set to kick in on Friday.
“With a lot of the chatter that kind of happened over the little while, I’m a firm believer that usually where there’s smoke there’s fire,” Subban said on a conference call. “Obviously it’s a little bit surreal, but it happened.”
Subban was not always the favorite of coach Michel Therrien and others in the organization despite his playmaking ability.
Nashville GM David Poile said the trade was first discussed at the draft last weekend in Buffalo.
Weber, who turns 31 on Aug. 14, had been with Nashville since the start of his NHL career in 2005. He signed a $110 million, 14-year offer sheet with Philadelphia as a restricted free agent in 2012, but Nashville matched it to keep him.
The three-time Norris Trophy finalist was a team captain and had 20 goals and 31 assists last season.
Lightning captain Steven Stamkos is staying put in Tampa Bay.
The 26-year-old Stamkos tweeted Wednesday that he was “excited to be back for 8 more years” and three people familiar with the decision confirmed the move.
One of the people said the contract is worth $68 million, and Stamkos will average $8.5 million per season.
The agreement was reached two days before Stamkos had the opportunity to test free agency, where the two-time NHL scoring champion was expected to command lucrative offers from numerous bidders, including his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs, the Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings.
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The teams announced the trade Wednesday, two days before the start of free agency.
The trade gives the goal-starved Devils an exciting young left wing, who was the No. 1 pick overall in 2010.
The Oilers get a solid defenseman who was the No. 4 overall selection in 2011. They also get salary cap space to possibly sign free agent Milan Lucic with Hall’s $6 million annual salary heading to New Jersey.