By Stevo, AllHabs.net
MONTREAL, QC. — Has the whole entire hockey world gone bonkers over P.K. Subban? It seems that not a Canadiens’ game goes by without Subban being a subject of discussion in one way or another, whether it be good or bad. (Depending on which side of the argument you’re on)
Records
This past Sunday, in a game against the Wild in Minnesotta, Subban did what few could have predicted he would do in his rookie season. Not only did he have a four point night, but he became the first rookie Canadiens’ defenseman to record a hat-trick (three goals) within the same game.
Harry Cameron holds the overall record for goals in a game by a Canadiens’ defenseman, with four. He achieved this way back on March 3 1920, in a 16-3 victory over Quebec.
Subban’s point total for the season now stands at 11 goals and 24 assists, for a total of 35 points, ahead of all rookie defensemen. The record for most goals by a Canadiens’ rookie defenseman in a season is held by Guy Lapointe (15). Lapointe also holds the record for most goals by Canadiens’ defenseman in a season (28). The record for most points by a Canadiens’ defenceman in a season is held by Larry Robinson (85).
Calder?
So where does this put P.K. Subban with regards to Calder trophy consideration, awarded the NHL’s to rookie for the season? No where really.
The fact of the matter is that three players pretty much have their nominations in the bag. They are Jeff Skinner (25 goals, 27 assists) of the Carolina Hurricanes, Logan Couture (27 goals, 21 assists) of the San Jose Sharks and Michael Grabner (30 goals, 16 assists) of the New York Islanders.
Subban’s 11 goals and 24 assists don’t quite put him in that category, not to say that he isn’t having a great season. Yet Subban continues to rub people the wrong way. Just ask Vincent Lecavalier.
Lecavalier Saga:
We all know what happened last Thursday when the Lightning and Canadiens faced off. After going back and forth at each other in a heated play in front of the net, the play ended with Lecavalier “two-handing” his stick into Subban’s pants, with Subban falling to the ice in apparent pain. This lead to Lecavalier receiving a five-minute major penalty and game misconduct.
Many were quick to throw flares at Subban for supposedly faking an injury on the play. I was not aware that when a player was hit in the pants, that it was not possible for them to get hurt. I can tell you one thing however, having played at the goaltender position, a puck in the pants can hurt, so I don’t see why a stick in the pants couldn’t.
That being said, Don Cherry exploded on CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada over the incident, ending his statement on Subban with, and I quote, “Somebody’s gonna get him.”. Not sure he’d be singing the same tune if Subban had been drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs, or Boston Bruins.
Lecavalier had much to say in the papers over the incident in the days that followed, stating that he didn’t feel he deserved to be ejected from the game, and pointing out that Subban had effectively hacked him twice before he had swung his stick back. Hockey play Vinny, it’s a hockey play.
When asked to comment about the incident on Twitter, Lecavalier said, “Nice to be back home, got a nice home cooked meal with family last night. Recharging battery for tues”. I guess Twitter was the only place he wasn’t complaining.
B-Mac
Bob MacKenzie was on the Team 990’s morning show this past Monday, and spoke about how he believes Subban will be a superstar in this league. He spoke about his strength, speed, puck control, but what struck me was his precise wording of what he thought of Subban’s personality. “Subban has the type of personality that rubs some people the wrong way, but it’s also what helps him be the player that he is.”
So when people say that Subban needs to learn, and needs to calm down, or tone it down if you prefer, I think quite the opposite. Continue to be who you are P.K., because the love for you in Montreal is almost incomprehensible at times.
P.K. Love
The love for P.K. in Montreal is undeniable. After asking my following to respond with what they think of when they hear “P.K. Subban”, the following are some of the responses I received: Prodigy; Electric; Fun; Exciting; PrimeTime; Norris.
I simply hope that fans remember he’s still very young, only 21 years of age and still has much learn. We are speaking great things of Subban’s point total, but in comparison, Tyler Myers in his second season with the Buffalo Sabres has 10 goals and 24 assists, just one goal less than Subban, and is considered to be having a very difficult season.
When Subban has his difficult moments, and growing pains which won’t go away after just one season, I hope people will encourage him on, rather then bring back conversations about his personality and way of being.
Have you gone Bonkers for P.K.? In a good way or a bad way? Leave a comment.
(Graphic: Reuters/Eric Miller)
Nice work, Steve.
For sure many fans in Montreal are going to push for Subban to receive a Calder nomination, if not win the award outright. Such claims are definitely said with a fair degree of bleu-blanc-rouge colored glasses, but there’s no doubt Subban has had a great season. Considering the role he plays, the load he carries, and the spotlight he’s in, he no doubt should be in the conversation.
Though as you pointed out, there are 3 guys in Couture, Grabner and Skinner who have had amazing seasons. Where were those 3 players at the start of the year? I think most people had Hall, Eberle, Seguin, Subban and a couple others in the conversation before the 3 you’ve highlighted. The point is that this has been a great season for rookies and Habs fans would do well to look beyong the fishbowl of Montreal to see who else deserves consideration. Subban may further raise his profile in the next 10 games (as others have the same opportunity to do), so I guess things could change. But as it stands, I don’t think Subban will win rookie of the year and only has an outside chance of getting a nomination. Part of his “antics” will probably play in to that as well. Let’s just blame the stanchions.
I was going to do a post about the Calder race, but I think I’ll just leave it at this post for now.
Some hockey players should just shut up and play, namely Mike Richards, Vinnie, Brad Marchand, Mike Komisarek et al. This is a media incited free-for-all, with an easy target, for some guys who have all had questionable incidents in their careers. They babble about respect and the hockey player code, taking some kind of hypocritical hockey moral high ground. It’s horse shit. The more the media, (social, print or tv) can cultivate this asinine storyline, the more they incense and polarize their audiences ultimately equaling more $$. PK is no different than any other player. It just so happens he showed up a few big mouths and now he’s on the radar.
I love PK, adore his spunk. But he does drive other players nuts, and as such it’s not really a bad thing, is it? He does get them out of their game.
But as for the Calder consideration, fans tend to look at him with Bleu, Blanc, Rouge tinted glasses as Kyle wrote. He’s not the angelic player some make him out to be: for the Lecavalier incident, he did provoke him a bit. Both players were lucky not to get hurt. I’m just saying he needs to be more careful about that kind of stuff…
For the rest, I wrote an long post on the same subject, in French: http://www.allhabs.net/feature/piques-au-vif/
Without extending the compariso too far, PK is very like Chris Chelios was in his prime, or Claude Lemieux. You HATE the bugger when you play against him but everyone wishes they had someone like him on their team. He’s a high quality pest that drives the opposition but he isn’t a buffoon like Avery or a thug like Cooke. And now, gradually, he is upping his skill level – which makes it worse for other teams because now he can hurt you offensively after he has drawn a penalty.
Don Cherry stopped being relevant when his taste in clothes was current. The NHL doesn’t work the way it did 20 years ago and it will never be the way he imagines it should be. Imagine the “Don told me to” defense of the player who decides to “get him.”. Good luck with that (unless that player is Chara – in which case, look out PK!)
P.K. love him or hate him he has the full package!!!
and is a huge part of the reason why the Habs are going to the playoffs!!!
Don Cherry has been all over the kid from the get go, and to make a statement that(quote) some one is going to get him was away off the cliff! and one of the major reasons respect for the game has dwindled. I thought we had a 10 second delay on his comments, who was at the switch and didn’t beep that garbage out.
GO PK GO – GO HABS GO
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