• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Previews and Predictions

What Now for P.K. Subban?

By Ari Grief September 22nd, 2013

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp
P.K. Subban

P.K. Subban will be in for a big payday if he continues his march towards becoming one of the league’s elite rearguards this season. (Eric Bolte-US PRESSWIRE)

Guy Lapointe, aka “Pointu,” holds a Montreal Canadiens team record that might surprise you. In 1974-75 the hard-hitting defender scored 28 goals, putting him ahead of legendary Habs like Doug Harvey, Larry Robinson and the not-so legendary Sheldon Souray.

In a tweet this week following my listing him as one of the Habs’ most underrated players, Guy Lapointe’s daughter was quick to point out her father’s achievement to me:

@HabsFanLeafLand He holds the Canadiens team record for goals scored in a season for a defenceman (28). He’s always been very low key…

— Stephanie Lapointe (@RavenMontreal) September 18, 2013

Souray came the closest to Lapointe’s franchise high with 26 goals in 2006-07. Subban has yet to play a full 82 game season with the Canadiens, having laced them up for 81 in 2011-12 where he totaled 7 goals and 29 assists for 36 points. Last season, he scored 11 goals and added 27 assists, topping his previous year’s totals in less than half the games.

Subban will undoubtedly top the 20 minute mark per game this season (he averaged 23:15 last year) and has become the team’s defacto number one d-man, ahead of the now cadaver-kneed Andrei Markov.

So where does P.K. go from here?

It’s typical for most athletes to have a drop in production once they’ve netted their big contracts (look out Edmonton Oilers) and we saw that in David Desharnais’ play last season after GM Bergevin signed him to a four-year, $14-million dollar extension.

Montreal Canadian P.K. Subban   - Photo By Andy Martin Jr

P.K. Subban has the hockey sense and shot to challenge Guy Lapointe’s franchise record of 28 goals in a season for the Habs – Photo By Andy Martin Jr

But that’s not the case this time for Subban. Last year he swallowed his pride and took Bergevin’s two-year bridge contract, accepting the challenge that should he continue his march towards becoming one of the league’s elite rearguards, he’d ultimately get the kind of payout that the likes of Karlsson, Doughty and Weber (rightly or wrongly) have already achieved for themselves.

Subban enters the last year of that two-year, $5.75-million dollar contract this season. So the soon-to-be All-Star defenceman has a lot to play for and could be on track for a mighty pay day if he knocks it out of the park this season (hey I miss the Expos), setting himself up for at least a 6 year deal at $7 million per.

Remember a few seasons ago when he couldn’t get slapshots through opposing shotblockers? Subban lost the wild wind-up and now gets his shots off quicker — and harder. He has the ability, as did Sheldon Souray, of blasting the puck not only past but through goaltenders. And his one-timer from inside the blueline is money when it’s on net.

It’s fair to say that with a full season, Subban could have at least scored 20 goals last year. This year, he comes to camp with a veteran attitude and is apparently in the best shape of his pro career. With lots of time on the powerplay (the Habs were at the top of the league of powerplay opportunities last season), combined with his overall ice-time, Subban could — and maybe should — break Lapointe’s record for goals scored in a season.

A lot of naysayers out there blame Bergevin for not locking up Subban to a long-term deal last year where he could have gotten him at a cheaper price. But then P.K. wouldn’t have that additional motivating factor coming into this season. And with the cap going up next year, Bergevin will be in the position to open up Geoff Molson’s coffers and give him what he wants because now, Subban will have earned it.

And you can bet if he takes care of business this year, Subban’s agent, Don Meehan, will make sure of that.

Ari Grief is working on a long-term deal of his own that will unfortunately not total in the millions. Catch him on Facebook and Twitter: HabsFanLeafLand

  • Tags
  • Andrei Markov
  • Don Meehan
  • Geoff Molson
  • Guy Lapointe
  • Marc Bergevin
  • P.K. Subban
  • Sheldon Souray
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 22nd 11:37 AM
Archives

50 in 50 for Mike Bossy

Jan 22nd 11:25 AM
Montreal Canadiens

Prospects News & Rumors: Caufield, Dobes, Power & More

Jan 22nd 11:15 AM
Dallas Stars

Dallas Stars Road Schedule Ravaged By COVID-19

Jan 22nd 10:55 AM
College Hockey

College Hockey Report: Riley vs. Riley, Family Members Faceoff Behind the Bench

Jan 22nd 10:45 AM
Nashville Predators

Predators: 3 Early Observations From the Young Season

Jan 22nd 10:35 AM
Washington Capitals

Capitals’ Backstrom Is Most Underrated Player in the NHL

Jan 22nd 10:25 AM
Colorado Avalanche

Kings Turn Tables On Avalanche For 4-2 Win

Jan 22nd 10:15 AM
Dallas Stars

3 Focuses for the Dallas Stars on Opening Night

Jan 22nd 10:05 AM
New York Islanders

Islanders Top Devils as Mat Barzal Continues to Grow

Jan 22nd 9:55 AM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs Will Never Replace Joe Thornton in the Locker Room

Editor’s Picks
2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

NHL TV Blackouts & Why They Happen?

NHL TV Blackouts & Why They Happen?

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information