P.K. Subban with young patients Gabriel, David, Liam and Ashley at the Montreal Children’s Hospital on Wednesday.CNW Group
So it's farewell for now from P.K. Subban, and, as befits a savvy communicator, the former Montreal Canadians defenceman managed to get the last word.
In town to visit kids at the hospital for which he has pledged to raise $10-million over seven years, the Nashville Predators rearguard passed on an opportunity to dwell on his departure for the team he always thought he'd retire with.
Instead, he focused on the first anniversary of his landmark philanthropic gesture and assured the masses of kids and parents in attendance – they had gathered in the vast atrium that bears his name – that "I will not let you down. … This is just Year 1."
He even took a few questions from the floor, the first of which came from a young patient named Liam, who sported a Nashville cap.
"I like your hat," Subban smiled.
The tot was mostly interested in talking to the 27-year-old about the neck injury he suffered last season in a game against Buffalo, which would be the last time he played in Habs colours.
"I was so worried about you," he said.
If Subban is a polarizing figure in the hockey world, there is nothing approaching ambivalence, let alone dislike, when it comes to how children and parents at the Montreal Children's Hospital see him.
Part of it has to do with personal magnetism and charm, but he also gets what the town – and Quebec – is all about ("It's just a great feeling when I come here, it's just natural.")
Subban delivered parts of his remarks in French. The very first thing out of mouth was a tribute to late Habs legend Jean Béliveau – Wednesday would have been his 85th birthday.
As one Montreal sports radio personality put it after the trade, Subban is as close to a Flying Frenchman as the Habs have had over the past decade.
That's not to say the Toronto native felt no misgivings after becoming a Predator.
Indeed, one of his first thoughts after learning he'd been traded – the June 29 transaction came while he was vacationing in France and just days before a no-trade clause kicked in – was that doors may not open so readily when he knocked on behalf of the hospital.
He needn't have worried; the fundraising effort to date has topped $1.4-million (it includes Subban's personal donation, the amount of which he declined to divulge) and provided support to 9,000 children and their families.
"It was more than I could ever have imagined. … Acquaintances became friends. When I got traded, my bond with the community, with people in the community, only grew stronger," he said.
Subban may not have a Montreal address much longer. His lavishly appointed two-bedroom condo in downtown's Golden Square Mile (highlights include: marble bathrooms, breakfast bar, a gigantic walk-in closet) went on the market earlier last month for $1.395-million.
But he insists that will have no bearing on his commitment to his adopted city.
A great deal has been said about Subban since the trade, from venomous denunciations by some fans of the front office – how could they do this? – to stage whispers about deficient leadership skills, punctuality problems and difficulties when it came to playing with others.
But he bears no grudges against his former club, at least none he's willing to admit to.
"That would just waste a lot of energy, to be honest," he said.
If Subban has any lingering regrets, it's that he won't have a chance to suit up for Canada at next month's World Cup of Hockey.
Though he has worn the Maple Leaf three times – and won two world junior championships and an Olympic gold medal – Subban was passed over for the left-shooting Jay Bouwmeester.
"I've always been one to want to represent my country. … I would love to do it again," he said, "I'm obviously disappointed at not being part of it, but there's some things I can control and some things I can't."
After a summer of recuperation, travel and fundraising – he held a comedy gala – now the emphasis shifts to Tennessee.
And what if this season ends with a parade, 12-year-old David asked.
"Hmm," Subban said, "let's see. If I win a Stanley Cup this year, there's no doubt it's coming back here."