PK Subban and Devils' GM Tom Fitzgerald had to have a difficult conversation

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Josh tupper
March 7, 2022 (10:40)

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Tom Fitzgerald played in 17 different NHL seasons with 7 different NHL teams, so he knows what it's like to sit on the opposite side of the table. Fitzgerald knows what it's like to be traded, having been dealt himself multiple times in his career. So when he sits down with a player and has a conversation he's direct and to the point, but that doesn't mean it doesn't impact him.

Over the weekend Fitzgerald had to sit down with right handed defenseman PK Subban and have one of those difficult conversations.

"I sat down with P.K. yesterday and we talked about uncertainty and the deadline and that we're not at a spot where we're looking to extend him at this point."

The Devils at this point are clearly not making the playoffs, and at 32-years-old it's likely the clock is ticking on Subban's career. PK likely doesn't want to take part in a rebuild and with zero trade protection in his contract Subban is the perfect trade candidate for a team looking to add a right handed dman who plays over the line.

"I sat in the chair across from the GM during my playing career. And been told you're being moved or there's the potential for being moved. Change is hard as a player. I've done it. It is hard."

"It is unnerving, I understand that."

"He's done a lot for community here and the organization. But I told him, �On the last day, somebody may lose a right-shot D and may call me and if the move makes sense for the New Jersey Devils and makes sense for you to potentially have a chance to win, I have to do what's best for the organization.'"

The Devils have clearly already developed their future plans and it likely doesn't include PK Subban, but with a cap hit of $9,000,000 the Devils are likely going to retain salary in the deal and find a 3rd team to broker the deal to make Subban's cap hit palatable.