NHL Trade Rumors: Canadiens Reportedly 'Gauging' Market For P.K. Subban

Would the Montreal Canadiens ever entertain the idea of trading away No. 1 defenseman and former Norris Trophy winner P.K. Subban?

Subban was benched and blamed by Habs head coach Michel Therrien for Montreal’s road loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night after committing a costly turnover in the final three minutes.

Therrien’s comments, in addition to the Canadiens’ emphatic fall in the standings over the last three months, have re-ignited the debate over whether he’s the right head coach for the Habs and if they should fire him soon, over the summer or not at all.

Very few people have suggested Subban is the problem, and he isn’t. However, Louis Jean of TVA Sports tweeted Friday morning that Subban’s name has come up around the league with the NHL trade deadline a little more than one week away.

Did the rounds to find out if Subban is on the market. One team executive said "his name has come up". @TVASports

— Louis Jean (@LouisJeanMedia) February 19, 2016

Not suggesting #Canadiens will trade Subban. Just saying one team confirmed #Habs are "gauging the market".

— Louis Jean (@LouisJeanMedia) February 19, 2016

Trading Subban would be a really bad move. There’s no other way to describe it. He’s one of the best players in the league, in the prime of his career and performs at the level of a top-pairing defenseman.

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Subban leads the Canadiens in scoring with 44 points and assists with 39, and he’s played in all 58 of the team’s games. He’s also driving puck possession at 5-on-5 with a solid 53.25 Corsi percentage, second-best among Habs defensemen. The 26-year-old arguably is the best skating defenseman in the league, and his exciting, offensive style of play makes him worth the price of admission just about every night.

It should be noted that trading Subban becomes much harder for Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin on July 1 because, according to General Fanager, that’s when the no-movement clause in his contract begins and runs through the end of the deal in 2022.

It shouldn’t matter, though, because trading Subban is a ridiculous idea. Teams go to great lengths to acquire No. 1 defensemen, so it would be foolish to give up one of the best ones, especially when he’s already signed long-term and wants to be in Montreal.

I told Bob Gainey when I was drafted I would do everything in my power to help the Habs win the cup. That's never changed. Will never. – PK

— Brian Wilde (@BWildeMTL) February 19, 2016

Thumbnail photo via Jake Roth/USA TODAY Sports Images