Habs fans dumbfounded, despairing over P.K. Subban trade to Nashville
Consensus seems to be Montreal Canadiens' loss, Nashville's gain
Montreal Canadiens fans reacted with shock and anger tothe news Wednesday afternoon that star Habsdefenceman P.K. Subban has been traded to the NashvillePredatorsfor Shea Weber.
Canadiens acquire defenseman Shea Weber from the Nashville Predators in return for defenseman P.K. Subban. pic.twitter.com/jlFvVNyjHG
—@CanadiensMTL
Subban thankedMontrealersfor their support via video.
BREAKING NEWS: @PKSubban1 responds after being traded from the Canadiens to the Predators.https://t.co/nQjW6gnpiO
—@uninterrupted
That message, however, was cold comfort tothe many Montrealers who came to love Subban for his spiritedstyle, both on and off the ice.
Top of mind were his contributions to the city, not least of all the $10 million he committed to raisingfortheMontreal Children's Hospital last year.
Subban fans took to Twitter in droves to express their despair and even outrage over the trade.
One fan even went so far as to burn his Habsjersey bearing Subban's name and number 76.
It had to burn. #Subban #Canadiens #Habs #Montreal #firebergevin pic.twitter.com/MwgZ8fCjdr
—@Punchey
Rest in piece Canadians. Trading off Subban.
—@Kagethewarrior
I love you Subban @PKSubban1 forever your fan
—@EneaBrandonenea
Montrealers,raise your glass in his honor tonite. @PKSubban1 thank you for your devotion to this city, to our children. #Subban #PKSubban
—@Caroomiya
What sucks is that I gotta hate subban now!
—@krizznationmmg
This Subban trade is so dumb for Montreal...
—@DylanSchweizer
The Habs tried to break PK Subban and never could. They couldn't handle him cause he was "different". I'm heart broken
—@NikkF07
Having a horrible season wasn't enough to turn me away from the Habs. Trading Subban is. #heartbroken
—@davidgmac9
How #Habs fans react if you ask them how they're doing after the PK Subban trade #Canadiens #NHL pic.twitter.com/ab3GXbfOEH
—@jordanparhar
When you don't watch hockey but know @PKSubban1 'cause he's dope and he's leaving for Nashville? Smh. #Subban pic.twitter.com/gnvNHLex0v
—@mllebernard
Coderre'hyperventilating'
Montreal Mayor Denis told reporters Wednesday thatthe trade "hurts," especially given Subban'sinvolvement with the city.
"He clearly wasn't someone who conformed he strayed from the beaten path but he had a magnificent connection with the people of Montreal, and that's why we loved him," Coderre said.
He also tweeted in Frenchthat the news had him "hyperventilating,"and hewished Subban well.
Pour l'hyper-ventilation il faut souffler dans un sac de papier Right? #PKexit #joke... :)) Serieux Bonne Chance pour la suite @PKSubban1
—@DenisCoderre
Bum deal for Habs, fans say
A consensus quickly emerged on Twitter that Nashville came out the winner in the trade, getting a player in his prime for a player many feel is in decline.
@MAAMPAC @jordanparhar @MeowLillian in shock that they did that to Subban. Montreal gets Weber's ok/worse years, Nville gets Subban's best.
—@penguinkitty87
@mike_p_johnson also leaving his prime, while Subban is entering it
—@aaront
We're about to see Subban play on a new team, with no pressure.... in his prime years. Wow
—@AntParadise
Welcome to Nashville, P.K.!
The Predators' pro shop wasted no time makingSubban jerseysavailable for sale, and the team's official Twitter site said the trade was "incredibly hard" butan improvement.
The team'sfans, meanwhile, had mixed feelings, voicingtheir excitement at acquiring Subban whilelamentingWeber's departure.
Welcome to Smashville! #predspride pic.twitter.com/HT7ETcX2DN
—@PredsProShop
Poile: "This was an incredibly hard deal to make. We did this to improve our team and we did that today." #Preds
—@PredsNHL
I freaking love P.K. Subban. Love. Him. But not Shea Weber!!!!!!! Can't we have them both?!?!
—@itschristyyall
I like P.K. Subban. But I why did we get rid of SHEA!!!
—@fred_thacker