"Let's make it really simple for Canadiens general manager Pierre Gauthier as he pauses on his way to the Help Wanted ads to parse this advice column over his herbal tea and vegan muffins:

Don't. Trade. P.K.

Don't even think about.

If another general manager makes inquiries about P.K. Subban's availability – as 29 GMs would, were the young defenceman on the market – hang up the phone and/or delete the email immediately.

Wait, shouldn't the general manager of a struggling hockey team be open to any and all offers that may help his club?

Indeed.

But if history is an indicator, trading P.K. Subban would do for the Canadiens what the invention of pantyhose did for the balcony at the Bijoux.

Defencemen have been some of the brightest jewels in the crown of this franchise: Doug Harvey and Tom Johnson on the team that won five Stanley Cups; the 1970s Big Three: Larry Robinson, Serge Savard and Guy Lapointe. Not to mention Jacques Laperrière, J.C. Tremblay, Rod Langway, Andrei Markov ....

But like much else associated with dynastic editions of the Canadiens, the knack of drafting, developing – and, crucially, retaining – great defencemen seems to have deserted the organization.

The Canadiens gave up on François Beauchemin, Stéphane Robidas and Ron Hainsey.

They traded away Éric Desjardins and first-ballot Hall of Famer Chris Chelios."