Subban is overrated, and a terrible teammate from accounts coming out of both Nashville and Montreal. There’s been rumours that the Preds have been looking to move him in the past. Vlasic, Michalek and Martin were all similar talent levels in their prime, coaching played a big role in how the latter two were used here. Letang has been as good or better than Josi when Letang is at his best, and I’d take him over Burns for overall play.
With Letang, the Pens have one of the best defensemen in the game. And in the past they have had some other great pieces back there. For years people were complaining that the Pens focused drafting and free agency on defense, and had no forward support for Geno and Sid. Now it’s been reversed. I’m not saying that the defense can’t and shouldn’t be better, because there’s a lot of money tied up there for little result, I’m saying the Pens have in the past and it didn’t work. Nashville has steller defense and meh offence, hasn’t won anything. The Sharks had Burns/Vlasic, great offense and were perennial playoff chokers. Karlsson has looked terrible on that team as well. I’d take Geno, Sid, Kessel, Jake and Letang, with a patchworked defense over a steller defense and no offensive depth. Because only the latter is a proven way to win.