Agent: P.K. Subban wants to play, has earned good opportunity
P.K. Subban isn't done with the NHL just yet.
"He wants to play, I can tell you that," Subban's longtime agent, Don Meehan, told the Montreal Gazette's Stu Cowan. "But I think at this stage in his career, he would want to play somewhere that would provide a good opportunity for him.
"Without sounding too aggressive, I think he's earned the privilege to be somewhat selective in terms of where he would play so that it works for the team and it works for him. In other words, he doesn't just want to play anywhere."
Subban is an unrestricted free agent after playing out the final season of an eight-year deal with a $9-million cap hit. While he won't command that figure again, it still won't be easy finding the perfect fit.
"I've told him that there are teams moving money - assessing what kind of cap space they have, analyzing their depth scenarios to determine just exactly what they can do," Meehan said.
"Some of these issues are in play as we speak, so I can't get a definitive response from some teams in terms of moving ahead, but I have had expressions of interest for him to date. But the teams that have expressed interest aren't in a position to contract now because they've got other things in play."
Evolving Hockey projects the Toronto native to sign a three-year deal with a $3.815-million cap hit.
Subban, 33, put up five goals and 17 assists in 77 games with the New Jersey Devils this past season while averaging a career-low 18:18 of ice time per contest.
He was one of the league's top defensemen during his prime. Subban captured the Norris Trophy in 2013 and was named a finalist for the coveted honor on two other occasions.
"He's not the P.K. of eight years ago, but then, nobody is," Meehan said. "But I think there's a place for him (where) he can contribute to a team and contribute well on a positive basis."
Selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the second round of the 2007 draft, Subban has 467 points in 834 career contests split between the Habs, Nashville Predators, and Devils.
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