Normally I respect the opinions of others. On Twitter it is not uncommon for me to have a quick back and forth before I decide to just end it with “I respectfully disagree with your opinion.”

I have admitted in previous posts that my opinions are not always right and I am glad to admit when they are wrong.

And yes, occasionally gloat when they are right, which brings me to my point: Pernell Karl Subban is a superstar on and off the ice, and in a star-crazed and star-starved city like Montreal, I will not accept anyone who says otherwise. I remember going to an Expos game with a friend and there were three standing ovations in the same game.

“You Montrealers really love your stars.” he said.

We do, we really do. And we have one, a great one, and his name is PK Subban.

On The Ice

PK Subban first joined us for a playoff series in Boston. One that would go 7 games before, sadly, the Canadiens lost. This was the first time I realized PK Subban was a star. He took over the series, including the tying goal in game 7 with just minutes left.

Since then he has won a Norris Trophy and been nominated for a second. He has been the Canadiens best defenseman season after season. He won a gold medal with Team Canada and logs more than 25 minutes a night while playing the PP and PK.

Does he make mistakes? Of course he does. Every d-man does.

I bet that if the Canadiens had a little more offense than PK wouldn’t have to take as many chances as he does. If Subban wanted to be a shut down defenseman who just stayed back and took care of his own net. Subban could do that.

The opposite is not true. If a shutdown d-man wanted to become Subban, it just wouldn’t happen.

It’s the little things that impress me. Go out on the ice tomorrow and try to backhand flip a puck from behind your own goal 20 feet in the air and make it land past center. Try holding off an NHL power forward with one hand while controlling the puck with the other. Try firing a puck over 100 miles an hour. Most NHL defencemen can’t do these things either, but PK does it with such ease that we rarely pay close attention.

What might be the most impressive stat he’ll put up this season: he is a plus-5. The only player that is better than him on the Habs is Gallagher, who is a plus-11 but missed most of the terrible December stretch with injuries.

So the guy who apparently turns the puck over too much, on one of the worst teams in the league, is still a plus-5. Eric Karlsson, who most people pick for the Norris this year, is a minus 4. Let that sink in for a moment…

Off the Ice

As good as he is on the ice, he may even be better off the ice. From his poor treatment and run ins with the coach, to dealing with racist remarks, PK always says and does the right things. His commitment to the Montreal Children’s Hospital, not only the monetary aspect, but the fact that he has been back there numerous times to donate his time, is incredible. And don’t give me this tax write off garbage, because if that was the case everyone would be doing it. He is involved with Hyundai and Scotia Bank hockey for kids, has posted videos of him surprising a group of kids for a game on the ice and one of him at the Montreal Children’s.

He even met with the family of a one-year-old baby he accidentally hit with a puck. PK just gets it. He gets what it means to be a role model. He gets what it means to be a member of the Montreal Canadiens. From his infamous kiss with Pierre McGuire to his “Bonjour Montreal” after he is named first star, PK’s smile is infectious. Some people might say he is a hot dog, some people might say he is an attention seeker. And it might be mildly true. He gets paid millions to do what he loves, wouldn’t that make your smile too? In an era of selfish athletes, I would not be afraid to let my nephews and nieces grow up admiring PK Subban. He is a hero, in an era where there are not many left.

PK Subban is not perfect. None of us are. He has made some mistakes on and off the ice. The great thing about PK is he would be the first to admit it. He has not been treated great at times by the coach, fans of other teams or even the league. PK never complains. He goes about his business in a professional manner. He understands the spotlight of playing in Montreal. He understands that he is the teams highest paid player and with that comes expectations that even he is not able to always live up to. But I know one thing: PK Subban is a superstar on and off the ice, and that, my friends, is good enough for me.

Those are my thoughts, would love to hear yours.
Follow me on Twitter @scottobrien99

Go Habs Go!!