Subban says Devils 'have to make the playoffs'

MONTREAL-- P.K. Subban is fired up for his first training camp with the New Jersey Devils because he knows that's where their path back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs begins.

"Everybody talks about what this person's role going to be in, what's that person's role going to be, I don't focus on that," the defenseman said Thursday while fundraising for his charitable foundation. "My job is to get myself best prepared for training camp up for the season and let everything else fall. I mean, everybody on this team needs to just come into training camp ready to compete and to be in the best shape that they can because we have to make the playoffs.
"We want to make the playoffs and that's got to be the standard. But there's a process to that and it starts in training camp. And I think roles will be defined as camp goes on and throughout the year."
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Subban was acquired by New Jersey in a trade with the Nashville Predators on June 22. The Devils have missed the playoffs six of the past seven seasons; the 30-year-old has missed them twice in 10 NHL seasons (2011-12, 2015-16).
Subban's fiancee, Lindsey Vonn, accompanied him on her first visit to the city where he made his NHL debut with the Montreal Canadiens and won the Norris Trophy voted as the NHL's best defenseman in 2012-13.
"This has probably been my best summer in terms of training, just from a scheduling standpoint, from everything kind of coming together," Subban said. "And she's been amazing in supporting me throughout the whole summer."

Vonn, who won the women's downhill skiing gold medal at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, said she is enjoying retirement. Her Instagram has shown her helping Subban with his skating.
"I just hold the bungee cord, that's all I do," Vonn said. "He works hard and I watch him, it's perfect."
The power couple will be moving to his new NHL home this weekend. The Devils open camp in mid-September.
"I just look forward to going to training camp and getting to know my new teammates, and also just kind of getting settled in," Subban said. "You know, my first time living in the United States was when I went to Nashville, and this is my second city. So I just want to get, the feeling of New Jersey. And we did that a little bit earlier this summer. But we'll be heading there on Sunday."
Instagram from @lindseyvonn: I always have your back babe! #teamwork
Photo by Jeff Auger/New Jersey Devils