So...Does PK Subban for Nathan MacKinnon Make Any Sense? December 5, 2013, 11:16 AM ET [660 Comments] Eklund

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So I've been talking to sources for quite a bit now regarding Montreal and Colorado rumors, and while there is a very rare level of extreme secrecy around all of this, I am getting a strong impression this may be bigger then I was first led to believe...way bigger. My source, who is close to both teams, continues to tell me this could be "as big as any trade since the last lockout."



I don't have specific names for you....but I do have a very real question, a question my source wouldn't deny or even comment on...



Does Nathan MacKinnon for PK Subban make sense?



From the Avalanche Side....



The Avalanche and Patrick Roy are in dire need of help on the blueline.



Remembering back to the draft when Colorado decided to draft MacKinnon over Jones, you might recall one of the reasons given was taking a defenseman with the first overall pick was too risky... it takes too long for defensemen to mature and Nathan MacKinnon was much more of a sure thing.



Well...PK Subban has matured. He is a Norris Trophy winner and if the current version of Subban had been on the table at the time of the draft Colorado would have surely taken him and filled their glaring need for D.



The Avalanche have a very strong young offense. The kind of core going forward any GM would salivate over. However, looking to a team like Edmonton we have seen that simply stacking the offense with A1 prospects doesn't always equate to victories. You still need that 1 or 2 defensive stud to bring the picture into focus. What better way to accelerate your team's progress then to pick up a PK Subban? The Avalanche would still be left with numerous young talented forwards and the loss up front would be marginal.



And then there is the Patrick Roy factor. Patience is for the dogs and if there is a chance to make a big play, "go big or go home."



Told you having Roy back would be fun...



From the Canadiens Side...



These Habs are a streaky bunch and are very much underrated for the talent they have up front. In a perfect world extending PK Subban for life would be the kind of solid move that not even a single player in the Montreal media (in any language) would criticize. How can you go wrong with as dynamic and fantastic a player?



Well, all is not perfect in Montreal. PK is about to be an RFA and remember this is the guy who held out BEFORE he won the Norris last year....and before the obvious strain in relations with coach Therrien became very real.



So here is a guy who has as much negotiating power as any defenseman in recent memory and he is playing in a city where local taxes will mean a ton of money should he get in the 6, 7 or more likely 8 Million dollar range.



PK won't sign an offer sheet for the tax reason alone. A Canadiens match is not a true match in dollars at all.



And who else was it who wasn't happy in Montreal and moved on to Colorado? Hmm...that name escapes me...



So with the impending Subban war coming the best option out there may be Montreal grabbing a 19 year old superstar on his entry level deal and 7 years away from UFA status. Nathan MacKinnon is the kind of player the Canadien fans have been craving for a VERY long time now. A young superstar who can become the franchise. A kid who is not phased by media coverage and intense scrutiny because he has been followed by the media since he was 12. It's not just a "best" option for the Habs... It's a killer option.



Nathan MacKinnon in Montreal could be absolutely perfect on the ice and have the added bonus of freeing up the money needed to get Markov and the improving young Defense tied up.



Is this a trade rumor? I wouldn't want to go there yet except to say I have two sources who are all but implying something along these lines is heavy in discussion...



And I am writing this based on that hunch...and because it is a worthwhile discussion.



So, you tell me...does it make sense?