The Vancouver Canucks haven’t made a blockbuster deal since shipping away star goalie Roberto Luongo to the Florida Panthers four years ago. But general manager Jim Benning got pretty close to pulling off a coup that almost landed P.K. Subban.
Speaking on Sportsnet’s 31 Thoughts Podcast, Elliotte Friedman revealed that the Canucks were close to trading for Subban at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft in New York. The Habs coveted Pierre-Luc Dubois, whom the Columbus Blue Jackets selected with the third-overall pick.
The Canucks picked fifth, and settled for defenceman Olli Juolevi.