Hockey is back, which means Coach’s Corner has returned to television screens during the first intermission of the early game on Hockey Night in Canada.
Ron MacLean and Don Cherry discussed a number of topics Saturday night, including the controversial summer trade that saw the Montreal Canadiens send P.K. Subban to the Nashville Predators for Shea Weber. Cherry offered his opinion of the move, lending some support to Subban’s comments that it was more of a personality move than a hockey one.
“P.K. said it was personal…I really do believe it was personal, and the way he played,” Cherry said. “He takes the chances and whole deal. He’ll shine in Nashville, he’ll be dynamite in Nashville I guarantee.”
Subban scored his first goal of the season in the Predators’ 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks Friday.
Cherry also provided some perspective on the Canadiens’ acquisition of Weber, noting the 6-foot-4, 232-pound blue liner’s physical presence and ability to put the puck in the back of the net.
“Weber, they [Canadiens] got a guy that scored 20 goals. They’re upset in Montreal…14 power-play goals. They got [Brendan] Gallagher, Andrew Shaw…they’re going to be tough to play against now.”
Weber finished tied for fourth among all skaters with 14 power-play goals in 2015-16. The Canadiens ranked 25th with the man advantage last season with a 16.2 per cent conversion rate.
The conversation shifted to Canadiens forward Andrew Shaw, who escaped supplementary discipline following a slew-foot on Buffalo Sabres forward Johan Larsson in Thursday’s game.
“Michel Therrien would love a stay-at-home defenceman like Weber and I would think he would like Andrew Shaw,” MacLean said. “I actually wondered if he had given Shaw the green light to go out and be crazy here.”
Cherry blasted Shaw’s antics.
“That’s not the way to play,” Cherry said. “He’s trying to prove something, that he’s tough. Shouldn’t do that.”