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P.K. Subban Reportedly Had Only These Two Teams on His List

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Jon
September 20, 2022  (11:55 PM)
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P.K. Subban retired his career today after 13 NHL seasons across the Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators, and the New Jersey Devils. The 33-year old reportedly wanted to play this season, but the right deal never came before him.

According to Patrick Lortie, Subban potentially had two teams and two teams only on his list, and when neither team came knocking, he ultimately elected for retirement.

"Can't 100% confirm if this is true but 2 different #NHL employees have told me that P.K. Subban had his eyes set on either a #GoHabsGo reunion or a final shot at the Cup with #LeafsForever. That were the only 2 options in his mind. When both doors closed, he was done.

At 33, he wanted to be chose where he wanted to finish his career. He knew the back issues were going to prevent him from being the P.K. of old, but he still had gas left in the tank for one more run."

The obvious disclaimer in there is the part where Lortie says he cannot positively confirm this rumor, but it does make sense. The part I question is that no team in the area sent him an offer. Ottawa, for example, is pretty thin defensively and could have sent Subban an offer, if Montreal and Toronto did not.

Nevertheless, Subban hails from the Greater Toronto Area, so Lortie's theory is not totally farfetched. I still wonder, on the other hand, if there was a team out there willing to pay him above-market value who could have wooed him. He was still playing decent enough hockey until the end, but perhaps Subban just wanted to end things on his own terms.

A great career it was, everyone can rest assured this is not the last we have seen of P.K. Subban. He will have his show 'P.K.'s Place' set to air this spring, and he will likely have other television opportunities as well.