'Players Want to Play Here:' P.K. Subban Reflects on Tenure in Nashville

P.K. Subban was back in Smashville on Monday - but in a way, it felt like he had never left.
The former Nashville Predators defenseman and three-time NHL All-Star, ever a man of the people, made his way around the home locker room at Bridgestone Arena exchanging hugs and handshakes with the players - several of whom were his former teammates. Subban enjoyed the opportunity to catch up, ask about their families, hear about their vacations during the All-Star break and more - after all, he had been away for a while.

"I made the decision to retire in September, just to take some time off and spend time with my family," he said. "I apologize to a lot of the media because I think a lot of people wanted me to do interviews and sit downs, and I chose to just take that time with my family and friends. And it was really nice and really rewarding to have four months where I could get time to just chill and do whatever I want and just relax."

After his retirement announcement in September 2022 and subsequent time off, Subban signed a three-year agreement with ESPN. He works primarily as a studio analyst, but he occasionally covers games throughout the season.
"I wasn't really sure what I was going to do," Subban said. "I didn't have a plan or anything like that. I was preparing to play another year and then when that didn't materialize, the opportunity with ESPN was something that garnered more interest as time went on… It's been great so far, being able to still be a part of the game and have an impact on the game."
When Subban commits to something, he commits 100 percent - and that includes retirement. ESPN's broadcast of the 2023 NHL All-Star Skills on Feb. 3, which featured Subban doing a live demonstration of the course for the Fastest Skater competition, was the first time he had put on skates in months.
"I think part of my success in my life and whatever I do is that I'm kind of an all or nothing guy," he said. "I don't really tiptoe around; if I'm doing something, I lock in and I focus on doing it. So when I made the decision to retire… once I turn that switch off, it's off. And it's been on for a long time. There's a part of me that knows maybe I could have played, but I'm very happy with where I am and I have no regrets. So I'm excited about the next chapter and moving forward."
The 33-year-old is most often associated with the Montreal Canadiens, where he spent the first seven years of his career and won the Norris Trophy in 2013. But Subban said many of his favorite NHL memories occurred during his three seasons in Nashville.
"I think throughout my career everyone talks a lot about Montreal, which was a great time and where my career started," he said. "But I believe that some of the best years and most enjoyed years were here in Nashville for me, no doubt. And not just because we had a really good team - it's just the people… I'm still very close with a lot of these guys, and in a lot of ways, these are my favorite group of guys that I played with."

Subban first arrived in Nashville in 2016 as part of one of the biggest trades in Predators franchise history - a swap of defensemen that sent Preds captain and fan favorite Shea Weber to Montreal.
"Shea Weber is such an impactful player in my time in the league and in the game and in the organization and the city of Nashville," Subban said. "So to come into the locker room and have them embrace me the way that they did and put me in a position to be successful, that can't get overlooked. You can come into a locker room as a good player and have an impact on the ice. But what I love about these guys is that they wanted to see me do well. It wasn't just about coming in and saying, 'Okay, let's see how you're going to help the team.' It's like, 'You're one of us. You're our teammate now.' It gave me every opportunity to be a part of the culture here, and I embraced that."
Subban quickly became an integral part of the Preds' 2017 Stanley Cup Final run, the 2018 Presidents' Trophy and back-to-back Central Division titles. He had 130 points (35g-95a) in 211 regular-season games played with the Preds and 24 points (7g-17a) in 41 Stanley Cup Playoff games before he was traded to the New Jersey Devils in 2019.
"It was a special group," Subban said of the 2017 team. "That year going to the Stanley Cup Final was probably the most fun year I've ever had, and that next year was almost even better, if you can imagine. We didn't get to where we wanted to as far as the Stanley Cup Final again, but man, did we ever have fun."
Subban was a prominent figure both on and off the ice. During his time in Nashville, he launched P.K.'s Blueline Buddies Program - an initiative to bring together youth and law enforcement. During every Predators home game, Subban brought together a member of the Metro Nashville Police Department with a big and little from Big Brothers Big Sisters. The program is still in existence today, now funded by the team, with a rotating cast of Preds players volunteering in Subban's place.

Blueline Buddies is just one of several ways that Subban's legacy lives on in Nashville. To celebrate this legacy, the Predators honored Subban in a pregame ceremony prior to Monday's game against the Arizona Coyotes for his contributions on and off the ice during his three seasons with the team.
"It's a great organization with a lot of great people," Subban said. "All you've got to do is go out and do your job and leave it all on the ice and respect the people that you work with every day. Treat everyone well, and you're going to have the best time here."

Even in a relatively short period of time, Subban left Nashville a better place than he found it. As grateful as he is for his time with the Predators, the organization is even more appreciative of his lasting impact.
"Players want to play here," Subban said. "This is a great place to play, one of the best places to play in the league, and I'm just happy to be a part of that. If I helped shine a light on Nashville being a great place to play and live, I'm happy I did that because it is."