Cairo, why are ya bringin up Phaneuf's name here? Do ya have a crush on him also? :lol:
Seriously my dear friend, we're talkin bout Subban and no one else. If ya have some secret Caitlyn Jenner-type of fantasy for Dion Phaneuf, this aint the thread for it. Let's stick to the point and right now that point is Pernell Karl Subban, whom i generously consider a top 7 defenceman around the NHL.
The habs are somewhat fortunate to have such a talent on their team, but you have to look at the big picture also. The contract Geoffrey Molson forced Marcus Bergevin to give him is a cap-killer on many teams. A $9 million cap-hit for 8 years really ties up any general manager's hands when he's trying to put his team over the top. But Subban is lucky to have a goalie of Carey Price's stature (definitely top 3 or 4) on his team. Were the habs to have an average goalie, they would never have been in the playoffs this season, and likely last year. Were this to be the case, the fans and media would be all over Molson and Bergevin for granting Subban such a ridiculous contract.
That's all i'm saying. I'm also pointing out that he's very popular with the media and also worked for Sportsnet 3 years ago when he was holding out for a new contract. He actually did very well and he's a natural in front of the camera. He'll do very well in broadcasting once his career ends. But the reason he's so popular is because he's playing in a major hockey market. And lets be honest: the fact he's black and playing in a league where 99% of the players (and executives) are white makes him stick out from that large group, which gives him tremendous exposure.
But he's far from being the top defenceman in the league. As i mentionned, he couldnt even crack Team Canada's lineup in Sochi, spending most of the tournament as a cheerleader sitting in the press box. And indeed, he was great at it. The likes of Marc-Edouard Vlacic, Jay Bouwemeester and Alex Pietrangelo were favored over him.
Most knowledgeable hockey observers (such as me & my twin) would greatly favor the likes Duncan Keith, Shea Webber, Mark Giordano, Ryan McDonagh, Drew Doughty and Erik Karlsson over Subban. And were Subban playing in a small market such as Phoenix, i could name at least a dozen more players i'd favour over the Brown Bomber.
Subban also doesnt bring anything to the table for a team like the habs other than jersey sales and hogging the camera. Sure, his biggest asset is his offensive ability. He's got a great shot. But his team was among the worst in the league on the PP and scoring-wise when 5 on 5. Just because of those two facts alone, it rules out completely his importance to the team since he remains a defensive liability when he's on the ice. He'd look even worse defensively if Carey Price didn't save the team's bacon every night.
Would i want Pernell Karl Subban on my team? Definitely. But not at $9 million per season. For 7 more years. Totally ridiculous contract for such a player, who's also somewhat of a disturbance among several of his teammates who cant stand him. That's why he'll never be any team's captain. He's still a man-child, too emotional and lacks leadership skills. That's why the likes of Erik Karlsson, Shea Weber, Mark Giordano, Dion Phaneuf, Ryan McDonagh, Zdeno Chara, Bryce Salvador, Willie Mitchell and Andrew Ference (all defencemen) are captains on their respective teams. They are leaders who lead by example. Subban, like many players, lacks that trait and may never possess it.
I rest my case.
