MONTREAL - No one beyond the players and the equipment staff truly know what goes on behind the doors of an NHL dressing room.

Not even the coaches, who aren’t in the athletes’ inner sanctum when nerves are raw, tempers are frayed or when these men, individually and collectively, ponder why they suddenly and inexplicably can’t put the puck in the ocean or stop one the size of a beach ball.

Of course, there is no shortage of speculation based on hearsay, rumour, thin sources and second- and third-hand observation about what transpires behind these doors: the cliques, feuds, slights, bruised egos.

So it was that, even before Erik Cole’s stall at the Bell Centre and the team’s Brossard training complex had been fully emptied this week, stories were circulating about a strained relationship between Cole and defenceman P.K. Subban, and how this bitterness perhaps had expedited the forward’s trade Tuesday to Dallas.

“I think that’s false,” Cole said from his Dallas hotel room Wednesday afternoon as he began to unpack a few bags in his new hockey home.

“I don’t think that P.K. and I were in conflict. If we were, I don’t think P.K. would have tried to call my phone when I sent a group text to the guys informing them of the trade, that he’d have reached out to me after the fact.”

Cole, like fellow departed veteran Hal Gill before him last May, spoke lavishly about Subban’s potential, about a 23-year-old rearguard who is growing by the shift into a prominent role with the Canadiens.

“P.K. is just an all-world talent, he really is,” Cole said. “He has all the tools in the world. But sometimes, he tries to do more than he needs to. Sometimes, that can be less effective.

“In a team game, it’s something that you try to say to him. ‘Hey, just move it here, jump into the hole, simplify a little bit.’ I sent him a text message, telling him, ‘Keep it simple, make the simple play and before you know it, you’ll be at the NHL awards.’

“That’s the truth, he’s that good of a player. P.K. is still figuring it out. He has all the talent in the world. It hasn’t all come together yet, but hopefully, it will.”

Cole briefly had a front-row seat to watch the first NHL strides of exciting rookies Alex Galchenyuk and Brendan Gallagher.

The latter turned over his uniform No. 73 to incoming, returning veteran Michael Ryder, acquired from the Stars for Cole; Gallagher took the No. 11 he’d worn as a junior in Vancouver, a jersey made famous in Montreal for a decade by captain Saku Koivu.

Cole chuckled about the idea entertained — probably jokingly — by Gallagher that the sacrifice of No. 73, the only NHL number worn by Ryder, would be worth a pricey Rolex wristwatch in return.

“I don’t know about a Rolex,” Cole said, laughing. “That sounds a bit steep for a rookie. Maybe a nice dinner?

“I’m sure Gallagher will be just fine and will follow in the footsteps of a great Canadien who wore No. 11 a few years back.”

In Toronto on Tuesday afternoon, Cole had a chance to say goodbye to many of his now-former teammates before he flew east back to Montreal then, the next morning, headed south to Dallas.

He was a Canadien for a little more than a season, but had forged close bonds in Montreal, friendships he’ll keep but daily relationships he’s profoundly sorry to lose.

“There are a lot of things I’ll miss about Montreal,” Cole said. “The guys in the room are a fantastic group, a fun group to have been a part of, to have played with and been around during the lockout.

“There was a one-on-one card game (on charter flights) with Josh Gorges that went on far too long because the other two guys in the game (Brian Gionta and Travis Moen) were injured.

“I drove Army (Colby Armstrong) to every home game this year,” he said. “I sent him a text when I got on the plane back to Montreal (Tuesday), telling him where the Starbucks was in Brossard, how to get to the Champlain Bridge, across the river to the arena.

“I’d go and pick up our coffees and swing back into the neighbourhood and pick him up and we’d drive in together. It was well worth it, Army’s such a great guy. We had a lot of fun conversations, but there was always one moment when we went a little quiet and took it in. I love the look of the city when you’re coming in across the bridge. That’s something I’m really going to miss.”

Their destination was as memorably rowdy as the windshield view of Montreal’s special skyline was peaceful.

“There’s not another place like the Bell Centre,” Cole said. “For a long time, it’s been my favourite building to play in. Certainly being able to experience it as a Canadien didn’t change that, it only increased it.

“It’s a tremendous atmosphere, a great place to play and great fans to play in front of. That’ll be missed, for sure.”

dstubbs@ montrealgazette.com

Twitter: @Dave_Stubbs