Budding defensive star P.K. Subban was quick to react to the lockout, but now he must bite his nails about another intense negotiation process: his own.
The restricted free agent needs a new contract before taking part in a hasty training camp in advance of an abbreviated season. He admitted to the Montreal Gazette’s Dave Stubbs that the Montreal Canadiens likely hold the leverage.
“The ball’s not in my court, it never has been,” Subban said. "(The ball’s) in the court of the franchise that’s been standing for 100-plus years. They must figure out whether they see me as a player who’s part of their future or not. I hope they do.”
That sounds like some tough talk, yet the 23-year-old blueliner also said all the right things about the team and the city.
“I love Montreal and I want to continue to grow my career there and become the player they need me to be to eventually hoist the Stanley Cup, which I hope happens sooner than later,” Subban said.
Participating in training camp probably wouldn’t hurt matters.
Subban isn’t alone, though. Here are some prominent players who need new deals, beginning with restricted free agents like Subban:
Notable RFAs without contracts (more here):
Jamie Benn
Ryan O’Reilly
Michael Del Zotto
Dmitry Kulikov
Cody Franson
Nick Palmieri
(Note: O’Reilly signed a two-year deal in the KHL during the lockout, but his potential overseas team said they wouldn’t stand in the way of an NHL contract.)
Notable unrestricted free agents (more here):
Tomas Holmstrom
Mike Knuble
Jason Arnott
Marco Sturm
Mike Commodore
Colin White
Jason Blake
Brian Rolston
Andrew Brunette
Daymond Langkow
Eric Fehr
(Some of these players might retire; Holmstrom seemed undecided when last asked.)
