PK Subban’s biggest success was the Olympic gold medal in Sochi 2014 with Canada.
photo: Jeff Vinnick / HHOF-IIHF Images
A long-standing concern when an NHL player decides to retire is, what comes next? For PK Subban, who announced his departure from the ice sheets of the NHL today, there is no such concern. He was born to be in front of a camera, and he will go into broadcasting. Of that there can be no doubt.
Subban leaves the game at age 33. His body is not broken, and, no, he never won a Stanley Cup. But for a few exceptional years he was among the very best defenders in the game, a Norris Trophy winner, an Olympic gold medallist, a two-time World Junior Champion, a veteran of 834 regular-season games with three NHL teams.
Born in Toronto, Subban came from a family of athletes. He has two brothers who also play, Jordan and Malcolm, and all three played junior with the Belleville Bulls. PK, the oldest, was drafted by his childhood team, the Montreal Canadiens, 43rd overall in 2007. He returned to the Bulls for two years and then apprenticed with the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs in 2009/10, making his NHL debut with the Habs on 12 February 2010.
During his junior years, Subban represented Canada at the 2008 and 2009 World Juniors, winning gold both times, first in Czechia, and then on home ice, in Ottawa. The 2009 team in particular was special. They had a perfect 6-0 record and a goal difference of 47-12. The semi-finals was famous for Jordan Eberle’s tying goal in the dying seconds against Russia, and teammates included John Tavares and Jamie Benn.
Subban leaves the game at age 33. His body is not broken, and, no, he never won a Stanley Cup. But for a few exceptional years he was among the very best defenders in the game, a Norris Trophy winner, an Olympic gold medallist, a two-time World Junior Champion, a veteran of 834 regular-season games with three NHL teams.
Born in Toronto, Subban came from a family of athletes. He has two brothers who also play, Jordan and Malcolm, and all three played junior with the Belleville Bulls. PK, the oldest, was drafted by his childhood team, the Montreal Canadiens, 43rd overall in 2007. He returned to the Bulls for two years and then apprenticed with the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs in 2009/10, making his NHL debut with the Habs on 12 February 2010.
During his junior years, Subban represented Canada at the 2008 and 2009 World Juniors, winning gold both times, first in Czechia, and then on home ice, in Ottawa. The 2009 team in particular was special. They had a perfect 6-0 record and a goal difference of 47-12. The semi-finals was famous for Jordan Eberle’s tying goal in the dying seconds against Russia, and teammates included John Tavares and Jamie Benn.
PK Subban with the trophy after winning the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship.
photo: Andre Ringuette / HHOF-IIHF Images
Subban made the Canadiens at training camp in 2010 and developed into a player who was great despite his faults. He loved skating with the puck, but sometimes committed too many giveaways. He was a dynamic and exciting player, but sometimes rubbed teammates and opponents the wrong way with his cockiness. He was a Black player in a white league, and didn’t mind being the loudest and happiest voice in the room. Most of all, it was clear that Subban loved hockey and loved life.
As he matured, his game evolved. His strengths got better and his faults fewer. In 2012/13, he won the Norris Trophy, but through his seven seasons with the team the Habs had little playoff success. Midway through the ‘13/’14 season, Subban was named to Canada’s 2014 Olympic team. Although he played only one game, Canada won gold and Subban became only the second Black hockey player to win Olympic gold in men’s ice hockey (after Jarome Iginla).
In the summer of 2016, Subban was traded to Nashville for Shea Weber, a deal that ignited fierce debate on both sides of the deal. Subban got the early praise because the next year the Predators went to the Stanley Cup finals, only to lose to Pittsburgh.
But the Preds were headed in the wrong direction and went only two rounds the following year and one round in Subban’s third season with the team. In the summer of 2019, he was traded again, this time to New Jersey, where he played his final three seasons. The under-achieving Devils, however, never qualified for the playoffs.
Subban gave it his all during his years in the U.S., but he seemed most at home in the chandail of the Habs’ colours. In 2015, he pledged to donate $10 million through his charity to the Montreal Children’s Hospital, a venture he continued after being traded and for which he was lauded from coast to coast. The hospital received the gift by noting it was "the biggest philanthropic commitment by a sports figure in Canadian history.”
"I never looked at myself or ever felt I was “just a hockey player”,” Subban wrote today on Twitter in his announcement. “I always looked at myself as a person who happened to play hockey. Having that perspective allowed me to enjoy every shift like it was my last, celebrate every goal with emotion, and play every game as if someone paid to watch me play who had never seen me play before.”
As he matured, his game evolved. His strengths got better and his faults fewer. In 2012/13, he won the Norris Trophy, but through his seven seasons with the team the Habs had little playoff success. Midway through the ‘13/’14 season, Subban was named to Canada’s 2014 Olympic team. Although he played only one game, Canada won gold and Subban became only the second Black hockey player to win Olympic gold in men’s ice hockey (after Jarome Iginla).
In the summer of 2016, Subban was traded to Nashville for Shea Weber, a deal that ignited fierce debate on both sides of the deal. Subban got the early praise because the next year the Predators went to the Stanley Cup finals, only to lose to Pittsburgh.
But the Preds were headed in the wrong direction and went only two rounds the following year and one round in Subban’s third season with the team. In the summer of 2019, he was traded again, this time to New Jersey, where he played his final three seasons. The under-achieving Devils, however, never qualified for the playoffs.
Subban gave it his all during his years in the U.S., but he seemed most at home in the chandail of the Habs’ colours. In 2015, he pledged to donate $10 million through his charity to the Montreal Children’s Hospital, a venture he continued after being traded and for which he was lauded from coast to coast. The hospital received the gift by noting it was "the biggest philanthropic commitment by a sports figure in Canadian history.”
"I never looked at myself or ever felt I was “just a hockey player”,” Subban wrote today on Twitter in his announcement. “I always looked at myself as a person who happened to play hockey. Having that perspective allowed me to enjoy every shift like it was my last, celebrate every goal with emotion, and play every game as if someone paid to watch me play who had never seen me play before.”
Yes, Subban leaves the ice, but he doesn’t leave the game. Not by a long shot. He was a co-host several times at the NHL Awards shows, and he has done extensive TV work with ESPN during the Stanley Cup playoffs. His is an infectious personality, and his energy is contagious. He walks away from the game with his health, and fans will continue to see him where he enjoys himself the most – in the spotlight.
NOTES: In addition to Subban and Zdeno Chara, Keith Yandle also announced his retirement today. The 36-year-old set an NHL Iron Man record by playing in 989 consecutive games. In all, he played in 1,109 games in 16 seasons and also represented the United States at the 2010 World Championship, his lone international appearance for the U.S.
NOTES: In addition to Subban and Zdeno Chara, Keith Yandle also announced his retirement today. The 36-year-old set an NHL Iron Man record by playing in 989 consecutive games. In all, he played in 1,109 games in 16 seasons and also represented the United States at the 2010 World Championship, his lone international appearance for the U.S.