Some Habs fans upset with Subban trade, say he will also be missed off the ice

MONTREAL – The day after the blockbuster trade that sent the immensely popular P.K. Subban to Nashville, some Montreal Canadiens fans were expressing disappointment about losing more than just a hockey player.

When news of the deal broke Wednesday, many fans and reporters took to social media to question why the Canadiens would trade a 27-year-old Norris Trophy winner in his prime for Shea Weber, who is almost four years older.

On the streets of Montreal on Thursday, fans such as Alex Zarmati were still wondering.

Zarmati, 22, said although Weber is a very good defenceman, the all-star is simply not as dynamic as Subban.

“It’s just tough because you see (Subban’s) personality and the way he plays,” he said. “He loves the fans and he loves the city and we feel the same way, so maybe we get a bad taste in our mouth (about) the way he was traded.”

Subban’s flashy, high-risk playing style made him a fan favourite in his seven years with the team, although at times it appeared to put him at odds with the club’s management.

And although he is a Toronto native, Subban’s charity work and prominent presence at local events turned him into a much-loved star in his adopted hometown.

At a local park, Pascal Dubois was one of many Montrealers saying they would miss Subban’s commitment to the city as much as they would his hockey skills.

“I think that what P.K. brought to Montreal, we don’t see that elsewhere,” Dubois said. “He was a star. Weber, he’s not a bad player, but he’s not P.K. Subban.”

Marie Servais, a visitor from Quebec City, recalled Subban’s pledge to help contribute $10 million to the Montreal Children’s Hospital last fall.

“I’m disappointed with the trade, after what he did for the hospital,” she said. “He was a great figure for the city.”

But some other fans believe Subban’s brashness may have been a distraction and they indicated an eagerness to see what Weber can do.

Subban’s photo still hung from one of the Bell Centre’s windows Thursday morning, but lifelong Canadiens fan Scott MacEwen was keen to move on.

He called Subban a “polarizing figure” who seemed to cause dissension with management and teammates alike.

“I think Shea Weber is a completely different type of individual,” said MacEwen, who was visiting from New Brunswick. “He’s an excellent leader, but he leads more by example than vocalizing it.

“In the discussion of who are the top five defencemen in the league, both P.K. and Shea are in that discussion and wherever you place them is more of a personal preference.”

Weber has 166 goals and 443 points in 763 career games. He scored 20 goals and 31 assists in 78 games last season for the Predators.

In comparison, Subban recorded six goals and 45 assists in 68 games last season for the Canadiens. He has 63 goals and 278 points in 434 career games.

MacEwen also pointed out the Canadiens will free up $1.2 million per year on their salary cap by acquiring Weber, which could let them add another player to the mix.

Weber, who turns 31 in August, captained the Predators last year and has been a constant on Canadian teams at major events, winning Olympic gold in 2010 and 2014.

Fans Rene Moreau and Pierre Couture both agreed that Weber’s experience gave him the nod over Subban.

“Weber has a lot more experience than P.K.,” Moreau said. “P.K. has a lot of talent, but he’s immature.”

Couture believes Montreal fans will warm up to Weber quickly if the team starts winning.

“When a player is good, we like him,” he said. “I think he’ll be fine here.”