LAS VEGAS – P.K. Subban is familiar with the persistent rumours that suggest he’s a prime candidate to be dealt away from the Montreal Canadiens before July 1.
He just doesn’t care about them.
“I’m never concerned,” Subban said Tuesday. “I’ve got a lot of things I’m doing in the off-season. My job is to prepare for the season. That’s all I can control. I never get nervous, I never get concerned about rumours or what people say. If I did that I’d be wasting a lot of energy.
“At the end of the day, I love playing for Montreal. I love the city. Not much else for me to do other than train and enjoy my summer. I can’t wait to go to Europe.”
It is no surprise to find that level of perspective from a player who always seems to possess more than his share of it. Subban is comfortable in the eye of the hurricane – unafraid to express himself or be himself under the intense glow of the spotlight.
In many ways, it’s what makes him an ideal fit in hockey-mad Montreal.
However, with a no-movement clause set to kick in on his $72-million contract in 10 days and the Canadiens still licking their wounds after a calamitous season, Subban has been mentioned as a potential trade target.
It’s an awfully difficult thing to imagine coming to pass even though that talk has circulated among some reputable sources. Subban is a huge fan favourite in Montreal and should have several good years ahead of him. He’s unquestionably one of the NHL’s top defencemen right now.
“For me, that’s why I don’t pay any mind to it,” said Subban. “All I can do is play as hard as I can on the ice and do my job. I trust in my ability because of my history and what I’ve accomplished in the league. I trust in that.
“I don’t trust in what people say.”
Subban is a finalist for the NHL’s Foundation Award on Wednesday night along with Mark Giordano of the Calgary Flames and Matt Martin of the New York Islanders. He made a $10-million donation to the Montreal Children’s Hospital last year and has been very generous in donating his time to visit with patients as well.
While some have suggested that he’s got too much going on away from the rink, Subban scoffs at that notion. He says he’s not worried about what any of his teammates are doing outside of the dressing room as long as they’re prepared to do their job once they’re there.
He’s had some time to reflect on the disappointing 2015-16 campaign and believes that everyone needs to share in the responsibility of not being able to pick up the slack after star goalie Carey Price was lost to injury.
“We can’t forget that we didn’t get enough from everybody else this year,” said Subban.
Presumably he was including himself in that comment, although the 27-year-old eclipsed 50 points for the third straight season. If the Habs were ever to consider moving him, it would take a mammoth offer to pull the trigger on a trade.
He knows it, too.
“At that end of the day, I feel confident as a player in what I accomplish,” said Subban. “I feel confident that I’m one of the best defencemen in the league. I don’t need anybody to tell me that, I know that when I step on the ice.
“I want to do that for the Montreal Canadiens.”
It’s been an incredibly busy summer already for Subban. He was a fixture at games – both home and away – during the Toronto Raptors playoff run and took batting practice with the Blue Jays in May.
He also looked quite svelte after his arrival here in Las Vegas – the product of a gruelling training regime. Part of the off-ice work has included sessions with former Canadian track star Ben Johnson at the University of Toronto.
“He’s helped me tremendously,” said Subban. “He’s got a tremendous mind for training and discipline. All I want to do is extract all of the knowledge that I can from someone who has been the best in the world at what he does, and who performed at a high level.”
That schedule hasn’t left him much time to keep up with the latest machinations of the rumour mill.
“As you can see, I’m very busy,” he said. “I have things going on. I don’t really pay attention to it to be honest with you. That’s what my off-season is. The regular season? I get it. I owe it to everybody, I stand in front of cameras, I’ll take scrutiny when I have to. I’ll take the praise when I have to.
“The off-season belongs to me, and nobody else. That’s the way I see it. I don’t owe anybody anything in the off-season.”
