P.K. P.K. Subban was’surprised’ that he wasn’t able to land a contract
In September, former NHL defenceman P.K. SubbanFrom hockey at the age 33. He now looks back with amusement at his playing days and the negotiations with the teams.
The Norris Trophy-winning Blueliner was unrestricted, free agents for the first time in their careers. He admits to being shocked at the lack of interest in the league.
“I was pretty surprised,” Subban said . “I felt I could have helped a number of teams. As a free agent, my goal was to be a part of a team that is in the top 10. Edmonton was interested in me, I believe. Carolina expressed interest. I didn’t have any discussions with the Maple Leafs. They weren’t interested in signing me.
“I think a lot of people wanted me to continue to train for the first part of the season, but that’s not the player I am. I have never considered myself a substitute player. I was always a top-ranked player in this league. I didn’t want to be a player who is in and out of the lineup every night.
“Money was never an issue for me. It was about helping a team win. I wanted to win the Stanley Cup. But those opportunities were never presented to me.”
When you hold yourself in high regard, playing for a team like, say, the Arizona Coyotes – whether they had interest or not – that is trying to lose games on purpose might not be the best place to try and have a career renaissance, after all.
Subban was, no doubt, in a difficult situation. He wanted to play for a great team with aspirations of lifting the Stanley Cup. But in his last years, Subban looked like a shadow on the ice. Instead of scoring boatloads of points and being the offensive play-driver that earned him his 13-year NHL career, Subban didn’t move as well as he once did and scored just 22 points in 77 games last season. Subban would be a depth defender for a new team and find himself in and outside of the lineup just like he feared.
Subban has chosen a new career path which is likely to be far more rewarding than losing games. Subban joined ESPN in January as a full-time analyst for hockey. This allowed him to bring his unique personality and expertise to the broadcast.
Subban will be back in Montreal on Thursday. This is the city that he admitted to recently. for a tribute before a game between the Canadiens and the Nashville Predators — the two franchises with which he starred in the NHL.
Subban was able to retire earlier than expected but he still hopes that his name will be remembered as one of the greatest hockey players.
“Who knows,” Subban said. “Maybe I’ll win a Stanley Cup as an owner.”
Subban was a part of 834 games during his 13-year NHL career, scoring 115 goals and 467 point. He was named to the NHL’s All-Star Team three times and earned the Norris Trophy in 2013. He earned more than $78-million during his entire career.
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