Prior to The Trade, the Canadiens analytics consultant at the time, Matt Pfeffer, argued to keep Subban, as
Sportsnet?s Eric Engels first reported. His recommendation was ultimately ignored, and his contract was not renewed by the Canadiens. Pfeffer was subsequently
hired by the Predators.
What was not widely known was that the Canadiens had commissioned a report seeking a comparison of Weber and Subban from a hockey analytics provider a month prior to The Trade, a report dated a day before the trade was consummated. The Athletic has acquired that report.