Pucks and Pitchforks
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BREAKING: PK SUBBAN to New Jersey Devils

By Joseph Stanislau

NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 25: Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban (76) skates during the National Hockey League Game between the New Jersey Devils and the Nashville Predators on October 25, 2018 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 25: Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban (76) skates during the National Hockey League Game between the New Jersey Devils and the Nashville Predators on October 25, 2018 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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With the news finally made official, the New Jersey Devils were one of a few teams to retain P.K. Subban’s $9 million salary in full. Ray Shero made it clear that “when you have a lot of salary cap to use it is your best asset.” That Sheronian philosophy has proven to be the key ingredient in this trade. Shero traded away pick 34 and a 2020 2nd rounder along with Steven Santini and Jeremy Davies.

I was on the air last night with Nick Villano, Beer Baron, and Sam Woo for the huge Fan Address “Let’s Go Devils Podcast.” One of the questions I was asked from Nick was would I trade a 2020 1st rounder for a ready defenseman like PK. My response was “no” to trading a first round pick. You don’t want to end up like Pierre Dorian after the Matt Duchene trade.

Meanwhile I did say on the air I would give up “2 second rounders, and maybe Sami Vatanen.” However today’s case is a little bit different. The response to Taylor Hall’s “We need to add skill” and the Rangers acquiring Jacob Trouba really amped up Shero to make the move for PK Subban.

Just talking to other people about the New Jersey Devils defense it’s beginning to look more like this:

Ty Smith- PK Subban

Will Butcher – Damon Severson

Andy Greene- Sami Vatanen

Connor Carrick

The New Jersey Devils defense just got much faster, strong more physical. The offensive firepower for the power play will be so lethal when this team is healthy that opposing teams won’t be taking the Devils lightly at all. The rivalries between the Rangers, and Flyers just got very interesting.

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One of the things that I absolutely love about PK’s game is his energy, skating, vision, physicality, and the bomb of a slap shot that can leave a vapor trail. 

At the current pace, with adding a guy like Subban, he is going to bring a lot of energy like he did in Montreal, and Nashville. P.K. is going to add a mega boost of community contributions not just to Hockey In Newark but also Hockey In New Jersey and the Tri-State Area to help grow the game at all levels.

PK did a mega 10 million dollar contribution to Montreal for a children’s hospital. I know for a fact that The New Jersey Devils do a lot of connections with St. Judes Hospital, and also have connections with Barnabas Medical Center. Having a person like Subban will only improve the on and off ice of hockey and community relations a lot for this growing Devils community.

As a Devils fan with the growth of this hockey franchise I’m beginning to forecast The New Jersey Devils to be a real force for playoff contention year in and out. I also expect Taylor Hall to begin contract talks ASAP especially with the rate Shero is not messing around now.

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