Like many a Canadian hockey fan I was left shaking my head after a pair of shocking transactions in the National Hockey League last week.
Wacky Wednesday saw the Edmonton Oilers ship one of the best left wingers in the league in Taylor Hall for a steady, reliable, albeit limited defenceman in Adam Larsson from New Jersey. Before we could come down from the shock of the trade, the Montreal Canadiens went ahead and stole the show when they shipped fan-favourite PK Subban for Nashville Predators captain Shea Weber.
The general managers of both Canadian teams were roundly criticized for what, on paper, seemed to be lopsided trades not in their favour.
Both Hall and Subban were cited for ‘character issues’ and poor fits within the confines of the locker room.
Subban has been fending off criticism for his high risk, high reward play on the ice and boisterous personality outside the rink.
One of the most electric, entertaining players of this generation, Subban’s play has always clashed with the old-school types. He’s been called a selfish, me-first player for much of his career.
The defenceman has also been one of the best at his position since coming into the league reflected by his Norris Trophy from the 2014 season.
Off the ice, he’s proven himself more than charitable. Subban donated $10 million dollars to the Montreal Children’s Hospital – a place he also frequents to help bring up the spirits of the young patients.
Sounds like a guy with real character issues, huh?
Yet despite his plaudits as a hockey player and genuinely adored figure in Montreal, GM Marc Bergevin saw fit to jettison the player in what he must have known would create a public relations nightmare.
It begs the question, why was the blueliner never truly allowed to flourish?
For my money, it comes down to Subban’s dynamic individual personality as a player clashing with the way coaches, management and the media traditionally view what a player should be – just a cog in the wheel.
Hockey remains regimented in an almost militaristic way. Stay in this position, don’t stray from it, say this to the media, don’t put yourself out there in any which way.
It’s a shame we were once again reminded of this fact last week.
