Music: {allcanada} Subban, Canadiens still hoping to avoid arbitration

Thursday, July 31, 2014

{allcanada} Subban, Canadiens still hoping to avoid arbitration

Stanley Cup Classics / NHL Greatest Rivalries, Vol. 5

Hours separate defenseman P.K. Subban and the Montreal Canadiens from a salary arbitration hearing, but he remains hopeful that can be avoided and a deal can be struck.

Subban's hearing is scheduled for Friday. The 25-year-old restricted free agent tied for fifth among NHL defensemen last season with 53 points in 82 games and led the Canadiens with 14 points in the Stanley Cup Playoffs averaging 27:26 of ice time per game. He earned $3.75 million last season, with a $2.875 million NHL salary-cap charge, in the final season of a two-year contract.

It has been reported by multiple media outlets that the sides remain far apart in their salary submissions.

Subban confirmed Thursday that his agent, Don Meehan, and the Canadiens continue to work toward a new deal.

"When it comes to hockey and sports, obviously there's the CBA [collective bargaining agreement], so everybody has to operate within the CBA," Subban told TSN 690 in Montreal. "We understand that. When it comes to negotiation, I let my agent take care of that. Obviously I've been adamant and I've repeated it many times … I'm sure if you look at all the interviews and the many interviews that I've done in Montreal over the past four years about how I feel about the province, the team and the organization, it's all been consistent. So there's no reason for anybody to think that that has changed.

"But in terms of a negotiation, this is business now. This is not just about P.K. the hockey player. This is business between what's best for P.K. and what's best for the organization, and it's been mutual respect on both sides. … Obviously over the years you've seen many negotiations throughout the League that have maybe gone sour, maybe have gone really good, haven't lasted long, but I have to say in respect to this negotiation it's been completely respectful on both sides. It's been great. I'm happy with the communication, the level of communication. Both sides are working hard to get something done. Obviously we understand the time frame and I'm sure my agent is having many conversations with Marc [Bergevin, Canadiens general manager] over the next 48 hours. I haven't heard from him this morning, but I'm sure that they're having many conversations, as everyone else would expect.

"As far as this goes, I have to respect the fact that my agent's been doing this for a very, very long time and understand that he's going to make sure that something gets done, and when it gets done that it's best for not only myself but for the Montreal Canadiens. He's had a long working relationship with them and I'm sure he's going to continue to work with them with many other clients in the future."

Subban spent Thursday in nearby Brossard, Quebec, working with his charity, Hyundai Hockey Helpers, which helps children blocked by financial barriers get involved in hockey. Subban told the radio station the organization has exceeded expectations.

"It's a special day for myself and my family because in reflecting, and when we came on board with Hyundai and KidSport to team up and be a part of this Hyundai Hockey Helpers program, did we expect to put 5,000 under-resourced kids into hockey two years later?" Subban said. "Did we expect to put 1,300 kids from Quebec … under-resourced kids into hockey? Did we expect to project possibly 2,000 more kids, under-resourced kids, put them into the game of hockey next year that can't afford it? If I said we did, I'd be lying.

"We obviously … when we set out our goal was to put as many kids as we possibly could that couldn't afford to play the game, couldn't afford to play our national game, into hockey. We wanted to put as many of them into this program as we possibly could. You know what? Kudos to not only to Hyundai and KidSport for teaming up and putting this program together, but good on the fans, good on people in communities that have gone out and educated themselves through the website, Hyundaihockey.ca, educated themselves on the program, and have continued to go out there and grow awareness for the program and getting these kids involved."

Work Bitch - Single - Britney Spears / Work From Home