NHL Rumors: Latest Trade Buzz on P.K. Subban, Scott Hartnell and More

P.K. Subban has seen both the highs and lows of NHL life since becoming a member of the Montreal Canadiens late in the 2009-10 season.

Subban made an immediate impression with his skating, booming shot and look-at-me type of personality. Subban was at his peak during the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season when he won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman after scoring 11 goals and 27 assists.

Subban seems to be more interested in getting off his shot and setting up his teammates for good scoring opportunities than he is in playing defensive hockey, but that's not entirely accurate. Subban does like playing offense, but he does not ignore defense and his ability to possess the puck indicates how valuable he can be when he is at his best.

Subban was not at his best in the 2015-16 season and neither was his team. After starting the season with nine straight victories, the Canadiens began a long and deep tailspin that resulted in the team missing the playoffs.

Subban scored just six goals this season, as his powerful shot regularly missed the net, was blocked or gobbled up by opposing goaltenders.

While Subban did have 45 assists, he did not make Canada's team that will compete in the World Cup of Hockey starting in September 2016.

Subban's contract has a no-trade clause that kicks in July 1, and there has been plenty of speculation that he will find his name being listed in the trade market.

However, it does not look like Subban will be traded. NHL insider Darren Dreger spoke to a Western Conference general manager who has had discussions with Montreal general manager Marc Bergevin, and the general manager made a direct inquiry about Subban. 

"One in particular, a Western Conference general manager, flat-out said he asked Bergevin about the availability of P.K. Subban," Dreger explained on radio station TSN 690 (h/t Chris Nichols of Today's Slapshot). "Now, this is probably in the last two, three weeks, maybe a bit longer than that. And he was flat-out told that he wasn’t going to be available."

Obviously, things could change by July 1, but it seems fairly secure that it would take a huge and unexpected offer for Bergevin to seriously consider trading Subban.

The Boston Bruins were in strong contention for a playoff spot prior to the trade deadline, and since they were well within the playoff structure at the time, they did not trade one of their best assets in Loui Eriksson.

Eriksson will soon be a free agent, and there was quite a bit of speculation around the trade deadline that the Bruins did not want to lose Eriksson without getting something in return, which is why they considered trading him.

But Eriksson was having the best of his three seasons in a Boston uniform, and the Bruins decided to keep him for the stretch run. They tried to sign him during the season to an extension, but the two sides could not reach an agreement. Eriksson scored 30 goals for the Bruins this season.

The Bruins may be just weeks away from losing Eriksson when free agency kicks in, but they are not going quietly. According to Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman, general manager Don Sweeney will take one more run at trying to get Eriksson signed before free agency gets underway.

Eriksson and his representation may ultimately choose to go the full free-agent route, but they are at least listening to the Bruins.

Columbus Blue Jackets left winger Scott Hartnell could also be on the move shortly, according to Friedman.

Some teams asked about Hartnell at the trade deadline, but the asking price was too high, and the Blue Jackets were not inclined to make a deal. Even if they had found a willing dance partner, they would have had to go to Hartnell and ask him to back away from the no-move clause in his contract.

While they didn't do it during midseason, Friedman reports that Hartnell has waived that clause in the case of several unspecified teams. 

Neither Columbus general manager Jarmo Kekalainen nor Hartnell's agent Matt Oates would comment, but Friedman reports that it is a "decent-sized list."