Countdown to TradeCentre: Will the Devils deal Subban?

The NHL's Mar. 21 Trade Deadline is approaching and teams are making decisions on whether to buy, sell and decide which players can make the biggest difference and hold the greatest value. Check out today's trade rumours and speculation from around the NHL beat. And follow TradeCentre on TSN and TSN.ca through Deadline Day for all the updates.  

New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald held discussions with pending unrestricted free agents P.K. Subban, Kyle Palmieri, Travis Zajac, Andy Greene and Blake Coleman over the weekend regarding the trade deadline.

Fitzgerald told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun in The Athletic that he informed Subban the team would not be opening contract discussions with him.

“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,’’ Firtzgerald said.

Subban caries a $9 million cap hit as he plays out the final season of the eight-year, $72 million contract he signed with the Montreal Canadiens in 2014. The 32-year-old has three goals and 18 points in 53 games this season, his third with the Devils after a 2019 trade from the Nashville Predators. 

LeBrun notes that the Devils will have to retain salary if they move Subban, while Fitzgerald said he only make a deal if it makes sense for both the franchise and veteran defenceman. 

“He’s done a lot for community here and the organization,’’ Fitzgerald said. “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.'"

A second-round pick of the Canadiens