P.K. Subban has announced his retirement.
The former Norris Trophy winner as the NHL’s top defenceman shared the news on his social media channels Tuesday morning.
The 33-year-old Toronto native played 13 seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators and New Jersey Devils.
Subban registered 115 goals and 467 points in 824 regular-season games. The 43rd pick at the 2007 NHL draft added 62 points (18 goals, 44 assists) in 96 post-season contests.
The flashy blue-liner won the Norris in 2013 with the Canadiens. And after signing an eight-year, US$72-million contract with the club, he donated $10 million to Montreal Children’s Hospital in 2016.
“When P.K. called us yesterday to share the news of his retirement, he spoke about how important it was to him to continue our partnership and how he is looking forward to having more time to spend with our young patients and to fundraise on their behalf,” said Renée Vézina, President of The Children’s Foundation in a statement. “P.K. will continue to be our spokesman and we will continue to be his greatest cheerleaders. As he moves into this next chapter in his life, we can’t wait to see what he does next!”
Subban, who was an unrestricted free agent this summer, has done television in the past and hinted at new opportunities in his retirement post.
“I never looked at myself or ever felt I was ‘just a hockey player,'” he wrote. “I always looked at myself as a person who happened to play hockey. Having that perspective allowed me to enjoy every shift like it was my last, celebrate every goal with emotion, and play every game as if someone paid to watch me who had never seen me play before.”
–With files from Global’s Gloria Henriquez