P.K. Subban Left Montreal, but Never Forgot His Promise
There are plenty of ways to measure an NHL player's legacy. Goals, assists, trophies, playoff runs, and the number of jerseys hanging in arenas all come to mind. But every once in a while, a story reminds us that some things are worth measuring and don't show up on a hockey statistics page.
P.K. Subban has just given us one of those reminders. Back in 2015, while playing for the Montreal Canadiens, Subban pledged $10 million to the Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation. It was an extraordinary commitment, even by professional-athlete standards. Now, more than a decade later, he has completed that promise. According to the hospital foundation, the donation helped approximately 100,000 children and their families.
That's quite a legacy. But another part of this story is particularly interesting.
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Subban’s Promise Outlasted His Hockey Career.
Remember what happened in 2016? Montreal traded Subban to the Nashville Predators for Shea Weber. Hockey fans had plenty to say about that deal, and Subban suddenly found himself playing in a different city, wearing a different sweater, and building a new chapter in his career. But his commitment to the children's hospital didn't move with the hockey headlines. It stayed in Montreal.
That's worth remembering. Subban didn't make a promise to a team or to a hockey organization. He joined a community and supported families who needed help. Leaving the Canadiens didn't change that responsibility.
The $10 million supported programs that helped children and families deal with difficult medical circumstances, including housing and financial assistance. Those aren't always the things that attract attention in sports coverage, but they can make an enormous difference to families already carrying enough worry.
Subban Built a Different Kind of Hockey Legacy.
We sometimes talk about athletes giving back as though it's an optional extra, something nice to mention after discussing their latest statistics. I think this story deserves a little more attention than that. Subban won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenceman in 2013. He also received the King Clancy Memorial Trophy for leadership and humanitarian contributions in 2022. Those are meaningful accomplishments.
But ask yourself what 100,000 children and their families might think about his legacy. For some of them, Subban's contribution may have meant a little less financial pressure, a place to stay, or simply one less thing to worry about during an incredibly difficult time.
Subban Was Quite the Character. Turns Out, He Had Quite a Heart, Too.
Hockey will always remember P.K. Subban as an entertaining, talented, and sometimes controversial player. That's part of his story. But perhaps the most important part happened away from the rink. He made a promise, stayed with it, and followed through.
That's a pretty good definition of leaving something behind.