By the start of the 2022-23 season, the Toronto Maple Leafs may have two former Norris Trophy winners on their blue-line.
For what feels like the past 10 years, the Toronto Maple Leafs have been linked to P.K. Subban.
And it makes sense why.
The former Norris Trophy winner is a local-kid and is a big-shot, right-handed defenseman. If you look at the team’s current depth-chart, the right-side is lacking and Subban could fill that gap.
For years, we’ve always thought that Subban could be a fit in Toronto. However, his $9M cap-hit always deterred that from happening.
Even if New Jersey retained half of his salary, Subban wasn’t worth $4.5M. As an Unrestricted Free Agent, he has the opportunity to play wherever he wants and there may be a team that pays him more than he’s worth, but at this point in his career, he may just want to play in a place he’s comfortable.
Especially since money shouldn’t be an issue for Subban at this point in his career.
He’s made close to $80M in career-earnings and plenty more on the side, so at 33-years-old, he may want to follow in the foot-steps of a few current Leafs and try to win a Stanley cup at home.
P.K. Subban Could Work with the Toronto Maple Leafs
Subban isn’t the same player he was when he won the Norris Trophy, but in the right situation, there’s no reason to believe he can’t help.
The Toronto, ON native was always at his best when he was the life of the party and was playing in a market that truly cared about hockey. He was a fan-favorite and loved the spotlight in Montreal when he played with the Canadiens, so returning home to wear the blue-and-white could rejuvenate his career.
If Subban put on the Toronto Maple Leafs jersey, the city would instantly fall in love with him. Even if he wasn’t a top-pairing defenseman, Subban would be a much better fit than what this team currently has.
As it always does in free agency, signing Subban will come down to money.
If he’s willing to take a discount on a one or two-year deal, then it makes sense. I’d feel comfortable with something around $3.5M AAV for two years, because although he’s a former Norris Trophy winner, he earned respect.
I don’t think anyone is lining up to pay him even half of what he used to make, so a deal that starts around $3M would be fair.
Subban could be a really solid addition on the Leafs blue-line and be another veteran who they can rely on when the games matter the most.