It started with Georges Laraque making a claim that the Edmonton Oilers have made an offer for P.K. Subban. It was reportedly Leon Draisaitl and the fourth-overall in exchange for Subban and the 9th (possibly Nail Yakupov). However, now, a seem for Subban seems like a giant enigma.
At a press conference Thursday, Marc Bergevin said that he had never shopped Subban, but he cannot stop teams from calling him. However, he also added that he never said he wouldn’t trade Subban. Basically, there was never a straight answer given about whether or not there is a possibility that he will trade Subban, or has been negotiating offers.
Since all of yesterday’s speculation, there has been more information coming out, especially from NHL Insiders. Elliotte Friedman was on Sportsnet 590 radio and said that there is more to the deal.
"“I think there’s more players involved. Maybe a Klefbom, somebody else like that. Edmonton has just not been willing to do it. I think the big game of chicken today is Marc Bergevin and Peter Chiarelli. I think Edmonton would love to have Subban, but I think they’ve looked at the price as being overly-unrealistic. They haven’t been so far. And I’m curious to see if that changes today. – Friedman"
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Hours from now, the Oilers will be on the clock at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, and that is most certainly the time the trade will be announced. Chiarelli’s a silent guy, and so is Bergevin. I feel like they will finalize any deal before they announce it, and when they do, it will be at the last possible second.
There is also the possibility this trade doesn’t happen at all. That being said, if a deal for Subban falls through, I think the Oilers will draft Matthew Tkachuk at fourth. This will be the main decision in determining a Subban deal: they really are interested in acquiring Pierre-Luc Dubois and this is their real chance to get him.
I believe the Oilers will end up adding a $6 million man to the deal in order to make this work. That is a lot of salary for the Oilers to take on, and with Draisaitl and Yakupov on the way out, that still doesn’t free up too much space for the team, nor does it add to the value of Subban. Therefore, I predict that if this deal is really in the works, the Oilers will add Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or Jordan Eberle.
Next: Edmonton Oilers Reportedly Offer Draisaitl, 4th For Subban
We will just have to wait and see. The Oilers will likely announce anything tonight, and I suspect a move instead of a draft pick.