The Extraordinary Career of P.K. Subban

In an earlier story, I wrote about Willie O'Ree, who broke the NHL's color barrier back in 1958, when he debuted for the Boston Bruins. O'Ree's influence led to a plethora of Black players making their mark in the NHL in the decades that passed. Notable Black players include Grant Fuhr, who was in net during the Edmonton Oilers' monstrous dynasty in the 1980s, Jarome Iginla, who set all sorts of high numbers in his amazing career, and the subject of this story, P.K. Subban, one of the best defensemen in the league during his career.

Born on May 13, 1989, Pernell-Karl Sylvester Subban began his hockey career in the Ontario Hockey League, and it was during that stint that Subban was drafted by the Montréal Canadiens. Subban was the 43rd pick in the 2007 Draft, which was the same draft that saw Patrick Kane as the top pick (Kane would go on to win the Stanley Cup three times). Other notable players in the draft included (but weren't limited to) David Perron, Jamie Benn, Logan Couture, Max Pacioretty (also by the Canadiens), Wayne Simmonds, and two-time Stanley Cup Champions Ryan McDonagh and Jake Muzzin.

Subban's debut in the NHL came during the 2009-10 season, but he only played two games. He did have two points (both assists) in the little time he played, but Subban would get his first taste of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Many fans remember this run; the Canadiens went all the way to the Eastern Conference Final behind the stellar effort of Jaroslav Halak in net. Subban played 14 games and had eight points (G/7 A) in the 2010 playoffs. Very impressive playoff debut. The ice time increased vastly for Subban right after that, as he would play 77 games in 2010-11, and rack up 38 points (14 G/24 A). He only had four points in seven playoff games that year.

Subban's first great accomplishment came in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season, as he matched his career high in points with 38 during that campaign. This was in 42 games of a 48-game season, meaning that in a full season, Subban could have possibly finished with around 70 points, which is quite high for a defenseman (it's always the forwards that get the big-time point totals). He added four more playoff points to his total, and for his spectacular regular season, Subban won the Norris Trophy (given to the best defenseman); the first and only Black defenseman to win that prestigious trophy. Beginning with that Norris Trophy season, Subban would be regarded as one of the league's best defensemen, as his point total would continue to increase year-by-year, and he would always be in Norris consideration.

Yet even that wasn't good enough for the Habs to keep him.

On June 29, 2016, the Canadiens actually traded Subban to the Nashville Predators for Shea Weber in what was seen as a blockbuster move by some, and a stunning and odd move by others. I wanted to kick off that paragraph with the words, "For some reason," but I know why. Despite the fact that Subban was one of the league's best defensemen, Les Habitants seemed to think he was a "distraction," he was "brash," and he was "self-absorbed." We all know what these buzzwords mean: Subban's a Black man with a personality, and as we all know, that's a no-no. No matter what the sport, you are simply not allowed to be a BIPOC player with a personality.

So Subban ended up dealt to the Preds, and his first season would see him score 10 goals and rack up 30 assists for 40 points, as well as reach the Stanley Cup Final. Yep, you read that right. The up-and-coming Predators had been threatening to have a long run, and once they received Subban, they got it. Subban had 12 points (2 G/10 A) in 22 playoff games during that magical run, which saw the Preds fall two wins short of the Stanley Cup. So how did Subban's former team fare that year? Well, they did finish first in the Atlantic Division, but they were knocked out in Round 1. But as long as they taught that "arrogant" Subban a lesson, right?

2017-18 was another banner year for Subban, he scored 16 goals (a career high) and racked up 43 assists for a total of 59 points--one shy of the career high point total from 2014-15. The Preds won the Presidents' Trophy that year, and as for Subban, he had nine points (4 G/5 A) in 13 playoff games that year. Unfortunately, as great as that season was, it would be the last gasp of the Subban we knew.

2018-19 saw Subban's point total nearly cut in half from the previous year; 31 points (9 G/22 A) in 63 games. Following that season, Subban was traded to the New Jersey Devils after three seasons in Nashville, but his production continued to deteriorate. In three seasons with the Devils, Subban never even cracked the 30-point mark, and as a fan of his for years, I was heartbroken. 2021-22 was the best of his three seasons in New Jersey, racking up 22 points (5 G/17 A) in 77 games played.

It was during the 2022 playoffs that Subban began appearing as a studio analyst for ESPN, and in September of that year, Subban called it a career as far as his playing days, and officially became part of ESPN's studio crew. When I heard the news of Subban's retirement, I only had two words in mind: "Thank you." Subban's career was quite amazing; 115 goals, 352 assists, 467 points in 834 games. In 96 playoff games: 18 goals, 44 assists, 62 points. A Norris Trophy in 2013, and an Olympic Gold Medal in 2014, and came within a hair of winning the Stanley Cup. Subban's killing it on ESPN, I continue to enjoy watching him on TV. Regarding his playing career, I again say, "thank you." Subban's contributions on the ice and off of it, serve as a huge positive notch for players of color; for players who look like me.