Pernell-Karl Sylvester “P. K.” Subban MSC is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the New Jersey Devils of the NHL. With an impressive international career, including a gold medal win at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, Subban has established himself as a decorated player. Originally from Toronto, Subban and his brothers honed their skills with the Belleville Bulls in the OHL. Despite his Toronto roots, Subban’s loyalty lies with the Montreal Canadiens, the team that drafted him in 2007. His exceptional performance on the ice earned him the Norris Trophy in 2013 and a lucrative eight-year, $72-million contract with the Canadiens. However, in 2016, he was traded to the Nashville Predators in a high-profile deal for Shea Weber. Subban’s journey eventually led him to the Devils in 2019, where he continues to make an impact on the ice.
Quick Facts
- Boyfriend: Lindsey Vonn
- Also Known As: Pernell-Karl Sylvester Subban
- Age: 34 Years, 34 Year Old Males
- Family: father: Karl Subban, mother: Maria Subban, siblings: Jordan, Malcolm, Nastassia, Natasha
- Ice Hockey Players
- Canadian Men
- Height: 6’0″ (183 cm), 6’0″ Males
- Ancestry: Jamaican Canadian
- City: Toronto, Canada
- Awards: James Norris Memorial Trophy
Childhood & Early Life
P.K. Subban was born on May 13, 1989, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is one of the five children of Caribbean immigrants Karl and Maria Subban. His father worked as a principal at a school. Subban has two brothers, Jordan and Malcolm, and two sisters, Nastassia and Natasha. Both Jordan and Malcolm are also professional hockey players.
Junior Career
During his junior career, Subban played for the Belleville Bulls of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) along with his two brothers. He spent four seasons in the OHL between 2005 and 2009. In 2009, Subban was included in the OHL First All-Star Team.
Career as a Professional Ice Hockey Defenceman
The Montreal Canadiens drafted P.K. Subban in the off-season at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. In May 2009, he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Canadiens. He started the 2009-10 season with the Canadiens’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs. Subban played 77 games for the team, registering 18 goals and 35 assists. His performance earned him spots in the AHL’s All-Rookie Team, All-Star Game, and First All-Star Team.
Later in the season, Subban made his debut for the Canadiens in the NHL in a match against the Philadelphia Flyers on February 12, 2010. He earned his first NHL point through an assist. During the Playoffs, he played 14 games, scoring one goal and seven assists.
In the 2010-11 season, Subban played his first complete season with the Montreal Canadiens. He played 77 games, recording 14 goals and 24 assists. In the 2011 Playoffs, he played seven games, earning four points. Subban became the first Canadiens rookie defenceman to register a hat-trick in a game, which occurred in a regular-season match against the Minnesota Wild on March 20, 2011.
In the 2011-12 season, Subban participated in 81 matches, registering seven goals and 29 assists. The Canadiens did not make it to the Playoffs that season, and Subban became a restricted free agent.
In January 2013, Subban negotiated a two-year, $5.75 million deal with the Canadiens. That season, he appeared in 42 games, scoring 11 goals and assisting in 27. In the Playoffs, he played five games and scored four points. For his performance, he received the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s defenceman of the year and was included in the NHL First All-Star Team.
Subban spent three more seasons with the Canadiens before being traded to the Nashville Predators in the summer of 2016. In his first season with the Predators, he registered 10 goals and 30 assists in 66 matches. He appeared in 22 games in the Playoffs, recording 12 points. The Predators reached the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals but lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Subban played two more seasons with the Predators before being traded to the New Jersey Devils in June 2019.
International Career
Subban has represented Canada in international competitions. He won consecutive gold medals at the 2008 and 2009 IIHF World U20 Championships as a member of the U20 Canadian national ice hockey team. He was also part of the Canadian delegation to the 2014 Sochi Olympics, where they won the gold medal by defeating Sweden.
Family & Personal Life
In June 2018, Subban started dating American skier Lindsey Vonn. Vonn is a four-time World Cup overall champion and a gold medallist in downhill at the 2010 Winter Olympics. In 2019, Vonn announced her retirement from the sport.
Subban is also known for his philanthropy. In September 2015, he committed to accumulating $10 million for the Montreal Children’s Hospital by 2022. He received the Meritorious Service Cross (Civil Division) for his efforts. After joining the Predators, he set up The P.K.’s Blueline Buddies, an initiative that aims to foster relationships between law enforcement officials and underprivileged youth.