Boston Hockey Now’s Jimmy Murphy dropped some information about a week ago that he believed a number of teams had shown interest in trading for New Jersey Devils’ defenseman P.K. Subban. He mentioned that fans from the Boston Bruins seemed to be keen on the idea and noted he’d follow up with a story about any inside information he might have as it pertains to the Bruins’ actual interest. That follow-up came on Sunday.
Murphy writes,
Multiple NHL sources have confirmed to BHN and NHN that the Boston Bruins, on more than one occasion, have explored what it would take to acquire Subban and at the same time convince the New Jersey Devils to eat at least half of the $9 million cap hit he carries in the final season of his current contract. The Toronto Maple Leafs have also expressed ‘more than lukewarm interest’ in the 2013 Norris Trophy Winner.
So, not only did Murphy follow up on the Bruins story, he added that the Maple Leafs have kicked tires as well.
The report that the Bruins would have asked New Jersey to retain 50% of Subban’s salary makes sense. A $9 million player for one more season, it’s not as though the Bruins actually have the space to add Subban. Salary retention was the only way a deal of this size was going to get completed. From a Devils’ perspective, it’s hard to see how it would make sense.
The Devils have a ton of cap space. While they could afford to retain salary, they can also afford to absorb Subban’s salary and the $9 million hit is not nearly as painful for GM Tom Fitzgerald as it might be for other teams. Hanging on to Subban doesn’t stop the team from doing other business.
What About the Maple Leafs?
It is rather interesting that Murphy also said the Toronto Maple Leafs had “more than lukewarm interest” in Subban. They too would need to have the Devils retain salary, but have no cap space whatsoever to make a deal of this size, even if Subban came at half the cost.
More must-reads: