Like it was with Eller, the Canadiens and P.K. Subban are fairly far apart in their arbitration reward submissions. As we stressed last time, this is no reason to panic, it’s strategic. It’s worth noting that the gap between the Habs’ offer to Eller and Eller’s offer to the Habs in arbitration was 87.9%, which is huge. The gap for the Subban contract is just 62.0%, it’s just bigger numbers so it looks scarier.
Subban has submitted a salary request of $8.5M per season, whereas the Habs have countered with $5.25M. Both numbers are far lower than expected, so if anything Habs fans should be jumping for joy right now.
Like with Eller, I still don’t believe this is going to arbitration. The team and Subban will agree to a deal before the hearing, because it benefits neither of them to go to arbitration.
It should come as no surprise that the Habs asked for a one-year term, as to retain Subban’s services if ever the negotiations do make it to arbitration. A two-year term would have meant Subban becomes a free agent at the end of the deal.
