Top 5 Most Influential People in the NHL: P.K. Subban

There are many influential people throughout the NHL. Some are players and others work behind the scenes to affect change. Throughout this series, I will highlight five people/groups I feel like are changing the game not only on the ice but out in the community as well. Today we start with someone who I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and watching play and affect change throughout the league for the past few years.

P.K. Subban might be known as a tough defenseman on the ice, but off the ice his work as a philanthropist has been something he has been deeply passionate about for years. Born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1989, Subban has been working on perfecting his game from a young age. He played for the Belleville Bulls in the OHL during his junior career and was drafted in 2007 by the Montreal Canadiens. He would make his NHL debut in 2009 but spent the majority of that season in the minors. In 2010, he became a staple in the NHL. In 2016 he was traded to the Nashville Predators and in 2019 he was traded again to the New Jersey Devils where he currently plays. He was also awarded an Olympic Gold Medal as part of Team Canada in 2014.

Subban is not just one to play hockey and go home. His philanthropic efforts have inspired lots of change throughout the cities he has inhabited in his career. In 2014, he created the P.K. Subban Foundation to help support his desire to support families who are affected by illness. In 2015, he pledged $10 million to the Montreal Children’s Hospital and continues to make visits to the hospital upon his return to the city. When he played in Nashville, he launched the Blueline Buddies initiative where he would host a member of the Metro Nashville Police Department and an underprivileged youth at every home game. This effort has been continued since his trade to New Jersey. Each Christmas, Subban is also known to also surprise families in his NHL city with presents, carols, and sometimes appearances from his teammates as well. Most recently, he has taken to his social media channels to promote the Black Lives Matter movement. He believes in “Change the Game” in order to change the narrative. His posts have made a call to other NHL players and the league to continue to join the movement and donate. Subban knows his platform is more than just a defenseman in the NHL, he is someone who can affect change throughout the league and sports in general.

The biggest task for any NHL player is who you become once you step off the ice. You may be the best goal scorer or the best shot blocker in the league, but when it comes down to it, who are you when the fans aren’t cheering you on? P.K. Subban embodies leadership. He realizes his unique opportunity to have a platform and utilizes it to the best of his ability. His philanthropic work speaks volumes above anything he could have produced on the ice.

In order to continue to follow Subban’s efforts, see below:

Personal Instagram: @Subbanator

Personal Twitter: @PKSubban1

Foundation Instagram: @pksubbanfoundation

Foundation Twitter: @PKSF1

Website: https://www.pksubban.com/