P. K. Subban

P. K. Subban
P.K. Subban with the Montreal Canadiens in 2015
Born	May 13, 1989 Toronto, ON, CAN
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb)
Position	Defence
Shoots	Right
NHL team	Montreal Canadiens
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	43rd overall, 2007 Montreal Canadiens
Playing career	2009–present

Pernell Karl "P. K." Subban^[1] (born May 13, 1989) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and an alternate captain for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). Subban was drafted by the Canadiens in the second round, 43rd overall, of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. In 2013, he won the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL's top defenceman, and tied with Kris Letang as the leading scorer among defencemen.

Internationally, P.K. Subban has won a gold medal with Canada at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Playing career

Junior

Subban spent his junior career with the Belleville Bulls of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). In 2005–06 he recorded 12 points in a 52 game rookie campaign. In 2006–07, he improved to 56 points in 68 games, where he was later drafted by the Canadiens in the off-season at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Subban then recorded 46 points in just 58 games during the 2007–08 campaign, before adding 23 points and matching his regular season goals total of eight in the post-season. He helped Belleville to the J. Ross Robertson Cup Finals against the Kitchener Rangers, where they lost the OHL title in seven games. Subban finished his four year junior career with 76 points in 56 games in the 2008–09 regular season, with the Bulls advancing to the league playoffs, losing in the OHL semi-finals.

Professional

In May 2009, two weeks after his last junior game, Subban was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract by the Canadiens.^[2] He began the 2009–10 season with the Hamilton Bulldogs, Montreal's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate. Later in the season, he was then selected to play in the 2010 AHL All-Star Game in Portland. Shortly thereafter, he earned his first call-up to the Canadiens on February 11, 2010, and, on the following day, registered his first career NHL point, an assist, in his debut against the Philadelphia Flyers on February 12.

On April 26, 2010, Subban was recalled from Hamilton during the Canadiens' first round Stanley Cup playoff series against the Washington Capitals.^[3] He recorded his first NHL playoff point, an assist, in his first career NHL playoff game, on April 26.^[4] His first goal came in Game 1 of the Canadiens' second round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins on April 30, 2010.^[5] In Game 3 against the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2010 Eastern Conference Finals, Subban became the third rookie defenceman in Canadiens history to register three assists in one game.^[6] In all, Subban recorded one goal and eight points in 14 playoff games for the Canadiens, who ultimately fell to Philadelphia.

After the Canadiens were eliminated by the Flyers, Subban was returned to the Bulldogs, who were still in contention in the Calder Cup playoffs.^[7] At the end of the AHL season, Subban was awarded the AHL President's Award in recognition of his accomplishments for the year.^[8]

Subban at the 2010 AHL All-Star Game

On March 20, 2011, Subban became the first Canadiens rookie defenceman to score a hat-trick in a game, which came in an 8–1 victory over the Minnesota Wild.^[9]

Playing in 81 games in the 2011–12 season, Subban recorded seven goals and 29 assists. A restricted free agent after the season, Subban sat out the first four games of the 2012–13 season, which was postponed until January 2013 due to a labour lockout, while the two sides negotiated a contract. On January 28, 2013, however, Subban eventually signed a two-year, $5.75 million deal with Montreal.^[10] He scored 11 goals and 27 assists, matching his career-high 38 points despite playing in only 42 games due to the lockout. At the end of the season, he was awarded with the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL's defenceman of the year, edging-out Kris Letang and Ryan Suter for the honour.^[11] On July 3, 2013, Subban was named to the NHL First All-Star Team.

Subban then played all 82 games during the 2013–14 regular season, in which he registered a total of 53 points, ten of which were goals. During the 2014 playoffs, he was one of Montreal's most important assets, registering 14 points in 17 games as the Canadiens ultimately reached the Eastern Conference Finals, falling to the New York Rangers.

Subban became a restricted free agent at the close of the 2013–14 season when his contract expired. According to the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), Subban earned the right to salary arbitration, having signed his first Standard Player Contract between the ages of 18 and 20 and having accrued four years of professional experience or more.^[12] He subsequently filed for arbitration before the deadline of July 5.^[13] The hearing took place on August 1, 2014, with Subban's camp asking for a one-year deal worth $8.5 million, while the Canadiens offered a one-year deal worth $5.5 million.^[14]

Under NHL CBA rules, the parties could continue to negotiate and reach an agreement until the arbitrator announced her decision, given in the 48 hours following the hearing. As arbitration was player-elected, once the arbitrator released her decision, the team would have had 48 hours to agree to the terms or walk away from the player, thereby making Subban an unrestricted free agent.^[12] The day after the hearing, on August 2, it was announced that Subban and the Habs had agreed to terms on an eight-year, $72 million contract, running through the 2021–22 season.^[15] The contract made him the highest-paid defenceman in the NHL and third-highest paid League player overall at the time.^[16]

On September 15, 2014, Subban was named an alternate captain of the Canadiens along with Max Pacioretty, Tomáš Plekanec and Andrei Markov as Montreal Head Coach Michel Therrien elected not to award a captaincy following Brian Gionta's departure in off-season.^[17]

International play

Medal record
Representing  Canada
Ice hockey
Winter Olympics
	2014 Sochi
World Junior Championships
	2009 Canada
	2008 Czech Republic

Subban made an international debut for Canada at the 2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in the Czech Republic. He saw limited ice time as Canada's seventh defenceman, but was able to help the team capture their fourth consecutive gold medal at the tournament, defeating Sweden in overtime in the final. Subban again represented Canada at the 2009 World Juniors in Ottawa, taking on a more central role with the team. He scored three goals and nine points and a differential of +12 in the tournament, helping Canada to its fifth consecutive gold medal as they once again defeated Sweden in the final. Subban was named to the Tournament All-Star Team, along with tournament MVP and close friend John Tavares.

Subban was invited to participate in the 2012 IIHF World Championship, but was injured during pre-tournament play. In the next season, Subban was a late addition to the Canadian team at the 2013 edition of the tournament; he joined them in the elimination round for one game, which Canada lost. On January 7, 2014, Subban was named to Canada's 2014 Winter Olympic team for participation in the Games in Sochi in defence of their 2010 gold medal.^[18] They successfully reprised the gold, prevailing 3–0 over Sweden in the tournament final.

Philanthropy

Before the 2015–16 season, on September 16, 2015, Subban announced his donation of $10 million to the Montreal Children's Hospital.^[19] The hospital called it "the biggest philanthropic commitment by a sports figure in Canadian history."^[19] After his donation, Subban continued his commitment as spokesman and organized the Winter Wonderland with Air Canada at the hospital before the holidays.^[20]

Personal life

Subban signing autographs in 2013

Subban's parents both immigrated to Ontario from the Caribbean in the 1970s. His father Karl moved from Jamaica to Sudbury, and his mother, Maria, came from Montserrat to Hamilton. Karl is a retired school principal.^[21] P. K. was born in Toronto, and has four siblings: Nastassia, Natasha, Jordan and Malcolm.^[22] P. K., Malcolm and Jordan all played for the Belleville Bulls during their junior career. Growing up, Subban was good friends with the first overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, John Tavares.^[23] Malcolm is a goaltender who was selected by the Boston Bruins in the first round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Jordan was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in the fourth round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.^[24]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Subban with the Montreal Canadiens in 2012

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2005–06	Belleville Bulls	OHL		52	5	7	12	70		3	0	0	0	2
2006–07	Belleville Bulls	OHL		68	15	41	56	89		15	5	8	13	26
2007–08	Belleville Bulls	OHL		58	8	38	46	100		21	8	15	23	28
2008–09	Belleville Bulls	OHL		56	14	62	76	94		17	3	12	15	22
2009–10	Hamilton Bulldogs	AHL		77	18	35	53	82		7	3	7	10	6
2009–10	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		2	0	2	2	2		14	1	7	8	6
2010–11	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		77	14	24	38	124		7	2	2	4	2
2011–12	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		81	7	29	36	119		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		42	11	27	38	57		5	2	2	4	31
2013–14	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		82	10	43	53	81		17	5	9	14	24
2014–15	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		82	15	45	60	74		12	1	7	8	31
2015–16	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		68	6	45	51	74		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				434	63	215	278	532		54	11	27	38	92

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2006	Canada Ontario	WHC17	5th		5	0	1	1	0
2008	Canada	WJC			7	0	0	0	2
2009	Canada	WJC			6	3	6	9	6
2013	Canada	WC	5th		1	0	0	0	0
2014	Canada	Oly			1	0	0	0	0
Junior totals					18	3	7	10	8
Senior totals					2	0	0	0	0

Awards

League	Award	Year
OHL	First All-Star Team	2009
AHL	All-Rookie Team	2010
AHL	President's Award	2010
NHL	All-Rookie Team	2011
NHL	James Norris Memorial Trophy	2013
NHL	NHL First All-Star Team	2013
NHL	NHL First All-Star Team	2015

See also

• List of black NHL players

References

1. "Speedy Subban has lots of confidence". CanWest MediaWorks Publications Inc. 2007-06-25. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
   "P.K. Subban's father is a big Andrei Markov fan". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
2. "Canadiens sign defencemen Subban, Benoit to contracts". TSN. 2009-05-14. Retrieved 2009-05-14.
3. "Subban's callup adds extra drama ahead of Game 6". CBC Sports. 2010-04-26. Retrieved 2010-12-14.
4. Dave Stubbs (2010-04-27). "Subban solid in playoff debut with Canadiens". National Post. Retrieved 2010-12-14.
5. Doug Harrison (2010-04-30). "Penguins' power play ices Habs". CBC Sports. Retrieved 2010-12-14.
6. Tim Wharnsby (2010-05-20). "Canadiens dominate Flyers in Game 3". CBC Sports. Retrieved 2010-12-14.
7. "Springtime hockey continues for Subban". Sportsnet. 2010-05-25. Retrieved 2010-12-14.
8. "Habs prospect Subban wins AHL honours". Toronto Sun. 2010-07-08. Retrieved 2010-12-14.
9. Stéphane Laberge (2011-03-26). "P. K. Subban écrit l'histoire" (in French). RDS. Retrieved 2011-03-28.
10. "Canadiens sign Subban to two-year, $5.75M contract". TSN. 2013-01-28. Retrieved 2013-06-12.
11. "NHL Awards: Capitals star Alex Ovechkin wins Hart Trophy as league's MVP". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2013-06-17.
12. "NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement" (PDF). NHL. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
13. Ken Campbell (5 July 2014). "Great news for Canadiens fans: P.K. Subban files for arbitration". The Hockey News. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
14. Sean Fitz-Gerald (1 August 2014). "A rundown of Montreal Canadiens defenceman P.K. Subban’s arbitration hearing and what comes next". National Post. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
15. "Canadiens agree to terms on an 8-year contract with defenseman P.K. Subban". Montreal Canadiens. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
16. Arpon Basu (3 August 2014). "Subban, Canadiens agree to terms on 8-year contract". NHL. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
17. "Canadiens opt for four alternate captains this season". NHL. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
18. "PK Subban, Carey Price will play for Team Canada in Sochi". CTV News. 2014-01-07. Retrieved 2014-01-07.
19. Fox, Luke (September 16, 2015). "P.K. Subban making $10 million donation in Montreal". Sportsnet. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
20. "P.K. Subban unveils Winter Wonderland at Montreal Children's Hospital". CBC News. December 24, 2015. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
21. "Subban family, Claireville school community gather for principal’s retirement". Etobicoke Guardian. 2013-06-25. Retrieved 2013-06-30.
22. "P.K. Subban's NHL dream". Toronto Star. 2007-12-24. Retrieved 2011-04-06.
23. Gordon, Sean (2012-08-23). "Subban, Tavares set friendship aside, just for a night". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
24. "Canucks make Jordan Subban fourth round selection". Belleville Bulls. 2013-06-30. Retrieved 2013-06-30.

External links

• Official website
• P. K. Subban on Twitter
• P. K. Subban's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database
• P. K. Subban's player profile at NHL.com