PK Subban
January 17th, 2012 | posted by BobbyKAs most hockey fans, I’ve been following the situation in Montreal. Few things really stand out.
- The tough situation for interim coach Randy Cunneyworth
- The exile of Mike Cammaleri
- The undersized team they are
- Halak shutting them out upon his return
- PK Subban
What interests me is P.K. Subban and the reaction, attention – positive and negative -he’s getting around the league. P.K. Is a player with tremendous potential, and he brings lot different dimensions to the game. The great Dennis Potvin recently said it very well – Subban’s game is complex. It will take little more time for him to refine it, but when he does, he will be a stellar defenseman for many years to come.
What’s great about watching P.K. is his passionate-physical play. He’s dynamic offensively, and most of all, he has his own personality. Many people find P.K.’s style disrespectful to the game, or it seems they hide their dislike for Subban’s personality behind those comments.
It is a lot of the same type of people who showed me absolutely no respect when I came to the league in 1990 freshly “off the boat” from eastern Europe. They demand you play and behave what they consider is right and respectful. These people developed a “carbon copy mold” for the “proper” NHL player. I had to battle through it and prove them you can be successful playing a style they don’t like and have a fairly good career.
If the Montreal Candiens want P.K. Subban to be their leader, they need to focus on channeling his strengths and continuing to develop him. They cannot try to change P.K.’s raw talent and skill. Back in the early 90s, Jaques Lemaire, Larry Robinson understood this and made sure I got opportunities playing with great players like Scott Stevens and Claude Lemieux in specific situations.
P.K. needs encouragement and guidance for him to thrive, because he’s taking plenty of heat from around the league. You don’t have enough players who are BOTH passionate AND able to be stars in this league. As a hockey fan and a former player who went through similar procces, I want to see P.K. succeed. When P.K. Subban is at his best - the Montreal Canadiens are lot more fun to watch.
PK is a cheap shot artist. Why his reckless and dangerous antics have been overlooked for so long amazes me. He needs to have his foot tendons cut by a skate so he can experience what harm he has and continues to try to cause.
Come on folks! Put on your big-boy pants and call Pernell out for what little he brings to the party.
He has reached his elastic limit. He tries too hard. Attempts to give the appearance of making an all-out effort, but simply doesn’t know what to do with himself (or the puck) after he has made the obvious next couple of moves. The truly good/great players just let it happen. Pernell must try too hard to do almost anything, and it is obvious. Has questionable situational awareness; doesn’t have an intelligent grasp and command of the entire ice as it’s being played. Is usually in reaction mode, not in anticipatory mode.
Known around the league as a “chippy” and dirty, role-player. Nothing particularly outstanding or remarkable regarding physical abilities or skills. In a few words………..overpaid mediocrity with an attitude.
There are several thousand Subbans out there who will never excel beyond the very lowest-levels of the NHL.
…my favourite..Larry Robinson
I just finished reading a book about the Canadiens, the last 100 yrs and when I read about John Ferguson, Doug Harvey and even my favourite – they all had growing pains and PK’s game is similar to theirs.
A great article and insightful – I agree this team needs some exuberance, some energy and pride…
It was enjoyable reading your thought and I find them well communicated and insightful. What you say, makes a lot of sense. In other cities, Subban would probably be able to refine his game with much less scrutiny than he gets in Montreal. If he can weather the storm and gets the right support from the club, I do think he will be a star!
The Habs are my #3 team, and I am pulling for PK
As BH said, (and I believe matters in a lot of life), accentuate the positives.
Reinforce the strengths.
After that happens, the staff can coach around the softer bits.
Cheers!
[...] good assessment of Subban comes from former NHLer Bobby Holik, who writes on his blog, Holik on Hockey: “Is a player with tremendous potential, and he brings lot different dimensions to the game. [...]
Good article and I love PK. Very few highly talented players in Montreal. One of them was dumped already in the Mike Cammalleri trade. Can’t afford to lose many more.
He reminds me of a young Chris Chelios. He skates great , has a good shot and seems to hit and play above his weight class. He has been one of the most exciting players on the team since he joined and hopefully he’ll be in Montreal long enough to see them challenge for a cup again.
PK is not long for this league…watch him now..he’ll be one of the most traded players in 3 years and gone in 4…he is a horrible character and a mouthpiece
Here we go again.sure lets throw pk under the bus……….we done this for 3 yrs. now, why stop.?No one wants to play here WHY??????? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?????We have so many good players to spare throwing another good player out or picking them to death is great for their moral………..ever heard of helping someone?
I really think Holik is correct in his summation.
I really hope Montreal does not trade this future star.Those old school
players like Richards use their dissatisfaction w/ Subbans’ attitude
as a mask for,in my opinion,their own closeted racism.You should know this is coming from a caucasian,
These ‘limited’ individuals would applaud any white player with PK’s swagger .If Geoff Molson has an ounce of common sense he will Veto any possible movement of PK that this moron Gauthier may try…
If they trade him this will be the worst trade since Patrick Roy and we all saw how that worked out for les glorieux…..
I totally agree. The Canadiens have done this for years … bring in a talented player and change him into a defensive specialist. Quit drafting players like Subban if you want a team full of Hal Gill’s. For the record, I have no problem with Gill’s game, but there has to be room for both types of player.
Insightful post,Bob. As a diehard Habs fan I’ve been fascinated and thrilled by PK since his first playoff appearance. His enthusiasm is contagious and his skill level is clearly high. I agree with the critics who say he needs more discipline and some strict guidance but he is a gem of a player and he and Price should be the backbone of the organization for many more years.
Awesome read. It’s refreshing to hear from someone who’s been there and done that.
David Chabot, it’s people with an attitude like yours that keeps racism at the forefront of less than intelligent people like yourself…..
Interesting points by Bobby H. but I tend to agree with Derek Papineau…
Right… Coming from Bobby Holik? Lol!
I’m sure your a great person off the ice, but on the ice you were one of the biggest cheap shot artist who would never drop the gloves. I see why you would defend Subban.
Some people have all the skill in the world but have a low hockey IQ. PK is exhibit A.
Agree 100%. Interesting read.
PK is only 22 years old after all, give him a chance, he’s only at his second season. And let’s face it, he has no Markov to look at for ‘repères’ and doesn’t have the chance to play for an amazing offensive team that supports him. And with all the mediocre staff management done by Gauthier over the season, they are messing with his mind, game, attitude and confidence.
Give the guy a chance! Don’t trade him so that he flourishes elsewhere in the league like it’s been the case so often with Canadiens’ exuberant young players!
Keep PK at all cost!
Thanks Bobby, wise words.
i THINK SUBBAN I A BIT OF A SHOW OFF. HE SHOULD STOP TRYING TO BE Boby Orr, he will never be him, if he want’s to succed as a Montreal Canadian, he should listen to coach, and also to some of hos vetersns, if he want’s to a good player
Bobby makes a good point which I think Montreal’s coaching staff and fellow players would be wise to pay attention to.
If I was the coach I’d try him up front for a while and give him a taste of what it’s like up there. His offensive skills are such that I don’t think he’d embarrass himself. He’ll either excel and stay there or,(and this is more likely) he’ll be a much more focused defenseman when he goes back to current position. This may even boost his confidence.
He definitely has the talent to be a Super Star in this league.
[...] why he’s being treated and played like the #1 defensemen. He has insane talent, and you can read this editorial by former NHLer Bobby Holik on Subban‘s great potential to be an excellent defensemen now and into the future. But why [...]
Hi Bobby,
Thank you for taking the time to put forth your thoughts in your blog. It is great hearing this perspective.
It is wonderful reading this post as you have hit the nail on the head on this subject. As a hockey fan first, then a Habs fan, P.K had many of us eager to see him in action on and off the ice, especially with his personality and sometimes colourful comments to match.
I had the chance to see P.K play with Hamilton during one of their rare visits to the Bell Center. Many of the fans in attendance only had eyes for P.K, who put on a great show with passion, endless energy and a simple love of being on the ice.
I am hoping during this season, or the off-season, that management finds him some good mentors and teammates to help him grow so this team, as you said, will be a lot more fun to watch.
I agree with everything said about PK in this post. Unfortunately PK doesn’t feel he needs guidance or support and thats where the problem lies.
Great blog post. As a Habs fan it’s nice to hear someone outside of Montreal say something positive about PK. There seems to be a smear camapaign where even when he doesn’t do something wrong, he gets blamed for it.
Hey Bobby I agree , PK needs a little time to work out the rough spots in his game but thoroughbreds should be encouraged with positive reinforcement to ensure their passion is allowed to show through. He’ll mature into a good one I think.
My son and I both notice that his stick doesn’t seem to be the right one for when he makes a rush up ice…I wonder if his curve is optimal for carrying the puck & my son thinks it is too long for him (probably either can be attributed to his preference during the defensive portion of his game).
Funny seeing this blog for the first time as I quoted you on the drive to work yesterday…was always a big fan of yours & glad to have a chance to tell you…cheers
I agree.. Well written bobby.. I’d love to see more for you writing
Wow… If there were only more intelligent individuals like yourself writing and analyzing hockey today. I’m a huge Habs fan and one who agrees with you 110% when it comes to a kid like P.K.. The problem isn’t with the kid in my opinion, but the organization who haven’t properly supported him. A guy like Larry Robinson should be here mentoring him!
Interesting perspective. I am an avid habs fan and have been frustrated with Subban at times, I see the skill level and passion is there and I used to simply lay the blame on Martin for putting all the blame on his younger players and letting the more veteran players make the same mistakes with no consequences. Since Martin has left I’ve liked how Cunneyworth has played Subban right after a mistake and Subban usually responds well. However if he keeps up being afraid to take a hit to make the play for his team or unwilling to back up some of his “dirtier” tactics in scrums by dropping the gloves he is losing all respect with his team mates. I see the body language of his team mates already unwilling to stand up for him. If he doesn’t learn that lesson soon he will have caused too much damage in the dressing room than what he will eventually be worth skill wise.
Cheers.
Wonderfully said. I love pk and not just because he plays for the team I love. But for the reasons you said. He is his own man, has personality and is excellent. I hope Montreal keeps him and that he flourishes!
Thanks for your words!
I agree I am a huge habs fan, others love to hate P.K. The things he does that get people stirred up I never see him do with bad intentions. He seems like a geniune good guy, he’s young and will make mistakes. Any negatives are far out weighed by positives I can’t wait for him to be more established in the league. I agree with your post completely
Great post Bobby.
So many in the NHL establishment demand a certain doe eyed milquetoast earnestness about how players conduct themselves off the ice that’s so tired and tedious. PK needs to be PK and play the game his way.
There is a difference between being passionate about the sport and having an overinflated ego and head to match. Subban acts on and off the ice like he’s a $10M/yr player when his lack of intelligent plays have cost the Habs more than a handfull of victories. Maybe Richards was right about him having a big mouth, who knows, but one things for sure, he deserves to be a health scratch more often this year..
Bobby Holik = Genius
Hello Mr. Holik,
My question is with regards to this remark “off the boat” attitude you felt when you first got here. Do you feel as though PK is being treated with disrespect because of his race? Personally, I can’t help but think some of his criticism is for this reason (I hope not). However, lets not put our heads in the sand, racism is still very present in our society and you can’t help but think his flamboyant attitude is rubbing off on these “up-tight” and “serious” predominantly white hockey players…