P.K. Subban and seven things we learned from his interview (so far)

P.K. Subban returned to Montreal this week for a sit-down interview with Eric Engels of Sportsnet, the first part of which ran on Tuesday night.

The focus of Part 1 was on his emotions surrounding the trade that sent Subban to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Shea Weber, but there were also comments about Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin’s comments about Subban post-trade.

Here are seven things we learned about P.K. Subban in his Sportsnet interview … well, so far:

This Is A Business!

The nuts and bolts of the Subban trade is that a player with a $9 million cap hit and six years of term remaining on his deal was traded within a window that allowed it to happen, before a no-movement clause kicked in. Both sides agreed to those terms. Subban knows this.

“This is a business. We can’t forget that. This is a business and I’ve always looked at it that way. That I could very well be traded like anyone else on the team. I just tried to work as hard as I could on the ice to make sure that didn’t happen,” he said.

But of course, the Canadiens have made cryptic noise about this deal being made for off-ice considerations.

The Center of Attention

P.K. Subban is, like, basically a wallflower.

“My mentality is that I never have to be the guy who always has to be the center of attention or has to be the front guy.”

Oh, wait, he meant the stuff that happens on the ice.

“I have no problem doing my job and someone else getting the credit. There are times I wish there was more attention on my teammates,” he said, as we nod vigorously in agreement with that last statement.

Vague Is Vague Is Vague Is Vague

Last week, we covered Bergevin’s cryptic comments about the media not reporting the full story on Subban, and that we should all just agree that there’s so much we don’t know.

It was vague in that annoying “you’re making this sound worse than it probably is” way…

So Subban was asked about this comments, and said:

“Any mistake that I’ve ever made in Montreal, I’ve taken responsibility for, in that moment,” he said, and left it at that.

It was vague in that annoying “you’re making this sound worse than it probably is” way.

Mise-en-scène

You don’t do a sit-down interview without checking the scenery. Well, unless you’re Patrick Kane’s lawyer.

So for the Subban Sit-Down, we see: 1. A giant, red heart, which P.K. leaves behind in Montreal; 2. The daggers constantly being pointed at Subban in Montreal; 3. The book “Luxury Toys For Men.” Because why not?

Putting Over Eric Engels

Eric Engels is an interesting fellow (and a great resource for Montreal foodies … thanks, sir!).

About five years ago, he was working at HockeyBuzz and was the epitome of “better than the platform.” Like, we were actively rooting for him to move on and wash the taint away. He parlayed that to a gig with CTV and then with Sportsnet, doing Canadiens writing and junior hockey coverage.

Subban has some kind words for him at the start and his integrity. Kudos to Eric for the “get.” It sorta reminded us of that scene in DEEP IMPACT when President Morgan Freeman chose plucky reporterTéa Leoni for the first question of his press conference about a planet-killing comet headed to Earth.

Well, minus the planet-killing comet … although Bergevin’s been called worse.

Donation Politics

Apparently, when P.K. Subban made a $10-million donation to a children’s hospital, it was seen by some members of the media as a craven attempt to improve his chances at becoming Canadiens captain.

Seriously. This was seriously a thing that was said.

Subban reaffirmed his indignation about this narrative.

“I don’t think I have to define my reasons for wanting to help people. People should want to help people. They shouldn’t be looking to write a story about wanting to help somebody. Why don’t you shut up and help?”

Indeed!

Finally, Marc Bergevin Makes P.K. Subban So Thirsty That He Drinks From An Empty Glass

Seriously, that thirsty. (Via @kikkerlaika)

Can’t wait for Part 2!

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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.