New York Islanders NHL Trade Rumor Weekly Wire May 7th

PK Subban (D) | Nashville Predators

Isles Desire: 2/5
Possibility: 1/5
Cost: $$$$

We’ve heard rumors that Subban might be traded from the Predators the second they were eliminated from the first round of the playoffs. Subban himself came right out to address the rumors, with what I thought to be a fairly diplomatic set of words.

Subban is one heck of a player. He’s a Norris trophy winning defenseman. He’s averaged 0.642 points per game in his career. He plays big minutes. He’s ruthless in his own end and can head man the puck out of the zone. He does just about everything well defensively. He’d be a great addition for any NHL team.

With Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis, Mattias Ekholm, the Nashville Predators already and have Dante Fabbro that’s ready to make the leap. The Predators have an embarrassment of riches at defense.

What they need, what they want is complementary offense to their top three guys in Ryan Johanssen, Filip Forsberg, and Viktor Arvidsson.

The possibility of a trade is low because Subban carries that massive $9 million cap hit for the next three seasons. The Islanders can absorb it, but it doesn’t leave them any room to make any other signings, including their own UFAs.

Trade Offer

Beau can fit in a top six, and a change of scenery might do him some good. In Bellows, the Preds get a young player that’s ready to make the jump to the NHL now.

It’s a lot to give up for the Islanders, and it doesn’t give them what they truly need up top, reducing the possibility this happens to almost zero. If they did bring him in the Islanders defense would immediately become the most feared in the NHL. So there’s that.