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Subban likely wants to stay, Godin says, and doesn’t mind the pressure of Montreal. “But does management, the coach, do the players around him feel the same way? I don’t know.

“There’s always been hesitation and mixed signals when it comes to Subban’s relationship with the rest of the team. My point of view, very humbly, is P.K. might have an overload of confidence and he might be a big personality but when you’ve got a talent like that you have to do what needs to be done to make it work. Find a way to make it work and not say, ‘Well, you know what, it might be too big of an issue and let’s get rid of a problem.’ Because P.K. Subban is not a problem. For Montreal, he’s part of the solution.”

Stauffer called Subban the sixth to tenth best defenceman in the league. Godin agreed: “On the ice he’s their key guy. There’s nobody on the Canadiens who drive the play more than him.”

Photo by Alan Diaz / AP

Hall and Klefbom for Subban?

Godin said the Habs would want Taylor Hall in return. “They need more than (Max) Pacioretty on the wing.”

Alex Galchenyuk could play wing or centre, and offseason moves will determine where Galchenyuk ends up, Godin said.

“There’s no doubt that Taylor Hall is the guy fits the best profile for the Canadiens.”

The Habs would also hope to get a defenceman, Godin said. “At least a decent skater that will eat up some minutes.”

Godin mentioned Oscar Klefbom. “He’s probably the sort of guy that might be thrown in.”

Here’s a chart showing what the various teams of interest have at forward right now, which also indicates where they might have a need. The Habs already have one excellent left shot winger in Pacioretty, but not much else on left wing. The Habs have some depth at centre, but no one who screams out No. 1 centreman. So it’s also possible Ryan Nugent-Hopkins would be of interest to the Habs.